Putin Lays Out Tough Demands Amid 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the United States-brokered proposal for a ceasefire in the Ukraine with tough conditions and demanding concessions from Kyiv despite saying he supported a truce in theory.

“We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said at a news conference – repeating the Kremlin’s previous claims that the current Ukrainian government is part of the underlying problem.

Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. At the time, Putin demanded that Ukraine never be allowed into NATO, and that the bloc roll back its military footprint in Eastern and Central Europe – which the US and its allies dismissed as non-starters, condemning the invasion as a blatant land grab.

Putin also suggested that Ukraine halt mobilization and any training of its troops, and that other nations stop supplying weapons to Kyiv during the ceasefire – at a time when “Russian troops are advancing on almost all areas of combat contact.”

Though the US idea is “great and correct,” many things still need to be discussed, he said, adding that “maybe” he would call US President Donald Trump.

The news conference came as American special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to brief Kremlin officials on the peace plan. Ukrainian officials had accepted the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire covering the entire front line after holding talks with US counterparts in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

Putin’s comments quickly drew condemnation from Kyiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing the Russian leader of dragging out the negotiations rather than rejecting the deal completely.

“Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians,” he said, criticizing Putin’s response as “very manipulative.”

Later on Thursday, Trump called Putin’s response “promising” but not complete.

“I’d love to meet with them or talk to him, but we have to get it over with fast. You know, every day, people are being killed,” he said in the Oval Office, adding that it will be a “very disappointing moment for the world” if Russia does not agree to the ceasefire.

He also said the US has been discussing with Ukraine what land would be kept and lost in any final deal. “So, a lot of the details of a final agreement have actually been discussed,” he said.

CNN/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma