Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for a US-backed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but emphasized that any truce should lead to a long-lasting peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict. Putin’s remarks came following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, where he stated that while the idea of a ceasefire is correct and necessary, there are details that need to be discussed.
President Donald Trump responded positively to Putin’s statement, calling it “very promising,” and expressed willingness to meet or talk with the Russian leader. The US has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following their acceptance of the ceasefire proposal.
Putin outlined several issues that need clarification, including guarantees that the ceasefire won’t be used as an opportunity for Ukrainian troops to receive weapons in Russia’s Kursk region and establishing monitoring mechanisms for the truce. He plans to discuss these concerns with the US president soon.
Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Putin describing it as a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine. The ceasefire talks are seen as an opportunity for Russia to secure its demands for a long-term settlement in the conflict, which includes Ukraine dropping its NATO ambitions and recognizing Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian regions.
The ongoing diplomatic efforts come as Russian forces have made territorial advances in eastern Ukraine and recaptured parts of the Kursk region seized by Ukrainian troops last year. Analysts suggest that Russia’s operation in Kursk is in its final stage, indicating a significant development in the conflict.
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