Putin suggests that the U.S. ceasefire proposal for Ukraine needs major revisions

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin expressed Russia’s conditional support for a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing that any agreement must tackle the underlying issues of the conflict and that numerous important details require resolution.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, devastated towns, and sparked the most significant confrontation between Moscow and the West in decades.

Putin’s cautious endorsement of the U.S. ceasefire initiative seemed aimed at demonstrating goodwill towards Washington and facilitating further discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the extensive list of conditions and clarifications he provided suggested that a quick ceasefire was unlikely.

“We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,” Putin stated to reporters at the Kremlin after meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. “The concept is valid, and we certainly endorse it.”

He added that any cessation of hostilities must lead to lasting peace and address the fundamental causes of the crisis. Putin outlined several issues that required clarification and expressed gratitude to Trump, who aspires to be recognized as a peacemaker, for his efforts to resolve the conflict. Both Moscow and Washington now frame the war as a perilous proxy conflict that could have escalated into World War Three.

Trump, who indicated his willingness to communicate with the Russian leader via phone, described Putin’s remarks as “very promising” and expressed hope that Moscow would “do the right thing.” He mentioned that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was engaged in serious discussions with Russian officials in Moscow regarding the U.S. proposal, which has already received Kyiv’s approval. The U.S. president noted that the outcome of Thursday’s discussions would reveal whether Moscow was prepared to reach an agreement. “Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world,” he remarked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Putin is likely preparing to dismiss the ceasefire proposal but is hesitant to communicate this to Trump. “This is why Moscow is attaching conditions to the ceasefire idea, ensuring that no progress occurs or that it is delayed for as long as possible,” Zelenskiy remarked during his evening video address.

Any postponement would provide Russia with additional time to drive the remaining Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, as Moscow insists on demands for Kyiv to permanently relinquish territory it claims, a stance that Ukraine firmly opposes.

The West and Ukraine characterize Russia’s invasion in 2022 as an imperialistic land grab and have consistently pledged to overcome Russian military forces. Currently, Russian troops occupy nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory and have been making incremental advances since mid-2024.

Trump mentioned that his administration has been deliberating on which territories Ukraine would retain or lose in any potential agreement, as well as the future of a significant power plant. Although he did not specify, he was likely alluding to the Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and currently under Russian control. Both parties have accused one another of jeopardizing safety at the plant through their actions.

Putin frames the conflict as an existential struggle against a declining and morally corrupt West, which he claims has humiliated Russia since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 by expanding the NATO military alliance and encroaching upon what he views as Moscow’s sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

PUTIN AND TRUMP

Putin stated that Russian troops were advancing along the entire frontline and emphasized that any ceasefire must prevent Ukraine from using the pause to regroup.
“How can we ensure that such a situation does not occur? What measures will be taken to manage the ceasefire?” Putin questioned. “These are critical issues.”
He mentioned the possibility of reaching out to Trump to discuss the matter.
On Tuesday, the United States agreed to resume the supply of weapons and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv expressed its willingness to support a ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia.
Recently, Russia has launched a rapid offensive in the western region of Kursk against Ukrainian forces, which had crossed the border in August in an attempt to divert Moscow’s military focus from eastern Ukraine, gain leverage, and create embarrassment for Putin.
The Russian leader expressed concerns about how a ceasefire would affect the situation in Kursk, where he made a rare appearance in a camouflage uniform on Wednesday to visit a command post.
“If we halt hostilities for 30 days, what does that imply? Will everyone there simply withdraw without resistance?” he asked.
According to the Russian military, Ukraine currently controls less than 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) in Kursk, a significant decrease from 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) at the height of the incursion.