Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signaled conditional support for a United States-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but insisted that key details needed to be addressed before any agreement could be reached.
Speaking at the Kremlin, Putin acknowledged that the idea of halting hostilities was “correct” but emphasised that any cessation of fighting should lead to a lasting resolution and eliminate the underlying causes of the conflict.
“We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,” Putin told reporters. “The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis.”
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which it terms a "special military operation" aimed at “denazifying” Ukraine and countering NATO’s expansion. The war has since claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left vast areas of Ukraine in ruins.
Putin’s remarks appeared to be a diplomatic overture towards Washington and US President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a potential broker of peace. Trump, who has previously expressed admiration for Putin, described the Russian leader’s statement as “very promising” and said he hoped Moscow would “do the right thing.”
The former US president, who is seeking a return to the White House in the upcoming elections, said that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was engaged in discussions with Russian officials in Moscow over the proposed ceasefire.
"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," Trump said.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s approach, warning that Moscow was merely stalling for time.
"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a ceasefire these conditions, so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
Territorial disputes remain a key sticking point
One of the primary obstacles in ceasefire discussions remains territorial control. Russia insists on Kyiv formally ceding regions it has annexed, a demand Ukraine has firmly rejected. Moscow has also called for assurances that Kyiv will not use any truce to regroup and launch counteroffensives.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ summit in Canada, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia was likely to accept a ceasefire in principle but with conditions.
"The US has told members it understands that Russia may be playing a game to extend the process by blurring the picture," Kallas told Reuters.
Any delay in peace talks would likely benefit Russia, which has steadily pushed Ukrainian forces back along the frontlines since mid-2024. Russian troops are also continuing to advance in Ukraine’s northeast, particularly in the western part of Russia's Kursk region.
Trump, meanwhile, revealed that discussions had taken place regarding territorial adjustments as part of a peace deal, including the future status of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control. The facility, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, has been a source of tension, with both sides accusing each other of reckless actions that could lead to a nuclear incident.
Putin, who portrays the war as a broader struggle against Western interference in Russia’s sphere of influence, said he might directly call Trump to discuss the situation.
Saudi Arabia pushes for diplomatic resolution
In a separate development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Putin by phone and reiterated Riyadh’s support for a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis, according to the Saudi state news agency.
The diplomatic manoeuvring comes as the United States recently resumed weapons supplies and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv following Ukraine’s stated willingness to back the ceasefire proposal.
