In a nuanced speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he thanked President Donald Trump for his efforts to end hostilities in Ukraine, but hoped that the 30-day ceasefire would continue to provide peace.
“The idea itself is correct and we certainly support it,” Putin said in a careful, verbal message at a press conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that need to be discussed and I think we need to discuss them with our American colleagues and partners.”
“We agree with the proposal to stop the fight, but we move on from the assumption that a ceasefire will lead to lasting peace and that the root cause of the crisis should be removed,” Putin added.
From left, Middle Eastern envoy Marco Rubio Steve Witkov and national security advisor Mike Waltz will be working with Saudi Arabia, as well as Saudi Arabia's bin bin bin Farhan al Saud and Saudi national security advisor Mozad bin Mohamad al Aivan, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin Vadimir Putin Vadimir Putin Vají Usak Lavií La La Pachinko, February 18, 2025. (AP News)
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Putin had warned not to say no directly to the 30-day ceasefire agreement that Ukraine agreed to earlier this week, but also suggested that there were too many variables to discuss, such as what will happen to Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region.
The Kremlin chief also argued that the ceasefire would benefit Ukraine only.
“In these conditions, I think it would be good for the Ukrainian side to secure a ceasefire for at least 30 days,” Putin said.
The comments from the Russian president reflected what was issued by his top aide early in the day Yuri Ushakov told Russian reporters.
“We believe our goal is long-term peaceful normalization, and we strive to do this,” he added. “Our concerns are known. No one needs to perform any steps to mimic peaceful actions in this situation.”
Ushakov, who met with national security advisers Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia last month, said Putin would eventually address Moscow's position on the ceasefire at a press conference on Thursday.
The comments came after Ushakov spoke with the Waltz and said that special envoy Steve Witkov had landed in Moscow and further debated the agreement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak at a joint press conference with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko following a meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Thursday's report suggested that Russia proposed its own wish list items to achieve an end to the battle, but those requests remain unconfirmed. Previous requests included banning Ukraine from joining NATO and administering five Ukrainian regions that were illegally seized. Only one of them is completely occupied.
Ukraine on Tuesday agreed to a 30-day ceasefire following hours of meetings with Waltz and Rubio in Saudi Arabia, conditional on accepting the Kremlin terms.
The ceasefire was an attempt to have both sides throw their arms aside to hold further negotiations on issues such as territory, occupational status, return of prisoners, and return of adducted Ukrainian children.
The State Department did not immediately answer questions from Fox News Digital.
Middle Eastern Ensoist Steve Witkov, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who was interviewed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2025, have been interviewed. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool)
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Russia increased the barrage of missile and drone attacks after the US suspended sharing military aid and intelligence news after suggesting that Ukraine's Voldime Zelenki school does not believe peace was “serious.”
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However, after successful consultations with Ukraine in Jeddah this week, the US quickly lifted its aid and information suspension.
“Ukraine is committed to a swift transition towards peace, and is ready to play our part in creating all the terms for a reliable, durable and decent peace,” Zelensky said in a post on Thursday. “We appreciate the fact that military aid and sharing of intelligence have resumed.
“Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire between the air and the sea, but the US proposed to land it. Ukraine welcomes this proposal,” he added.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak at a press conference at the Ukrainian Peace Summit in Obbürgen, Switzerland on June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
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Zelenskyy said Putin had previously silenced over the ceasefire proposal. “It once again demonstrates that Russia is trying to extend the war and postpone peace as long as possible,” he said.
“I hope that US pressure is sufficient to end the war on Russia,” he added.
