Putin: “Issues” To Discuss Before Russia Accepts Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that there were “issues we need to discuss” for Russia to accept the United States’ proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
In a joint press conference with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Putin said he agreed with the proposal, “but we proceed from the premise that this cessation must lead to a long-term peace and address the root causes of the crisis”, demanding that guarantees be provided to Russia:
“How will these 30 days be used? To continue forced mobilization in Ukraine? To send more weapons there? How will issues of control and verification be handled — how can we be guaranteed that none of this will happen?”
“The idea itself is correct, and we undoubtedly support it, but there are issues we need to discuss — including with our American partners. Perhaps I will discuss it with President Trump in a phone call”, continued Putin.
Putin’s remarks were made ahead of a planned meeting later on Thursday with United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday for negotiations on a possible ceasefire, and is expected to formally present the United States’ ceasefire plan to Putin during the meeting.
Ukraine announced March 11 that it would commit to a 30 day U.S.-brokered ceasefire if Russia would reciprocate, with the U.S. also announcing that it would resume intelligence and military aid to Ukraine following negotiations between Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, Trump threatened Russia with “very bad, devastating” sanctions should Russia not accept the ceasefire. “But I don’t want to do that because I want to see peace. And we’re getting close to getting something done,” said Trump during a press conference following a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
In his speech announcing his full scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Putin claimed that his “special military operation” was intended to achieve the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine.