Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed cautious support for President Donald Trump’s efforts to end hostilities in Ukraine during a recent news conference in Moscow. While he acknowledged the idea of a 30-day ceasefire, Putin emphasized the need for lasting peace and discussed potential issues that would need to be addressed. He also suggested that a ceasefire could benefit Ukraine by allowing Kyiv to mobilize and rearm, which could have negative implications for the region.
The Russian president’s comments were in line with statements made by his top aide, Yuri Ushakov, who indicated that a ceasefire would only provide temporary relief for Ukrainian forces. Ushakov emphasized Russia’s desire for long-term peaceful normalization and expressed concerns about actions that could imitate peaceful intentions without actually leading to lasting peace. He also mentioned that Putin would elaborate on Moscow’s position on the ceasefire during a press conference, highlighting the importance of ongoing discussions between the two countries.
Reports indicated that Russia had presented the U.S. with a list of demands to achieve an end to the conflict in Ukraine, though the specific details of these demands were not confirmed. These demands reportedly included preventing Ukraine from joining NATO and gaining control over several Ukrainian regions that Moscow had seized. Ukraine had agreed to the 30-day ceasefire following talks with U.S. officials, with the hope that further negotiations on key issues could follow.
The increase in Russia’s attacks on Ukraine with missile and drone strikes coincided with a pause in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing, prompting tensions between the two countries. This pause was initiated after Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not serious about peace, leading to heightened disagreements between the White House and Ukraine. However, after successful talks in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. lifted its aid and intelligence pause, signaling a renewed commitment to supporting Ukraine in its efforts for peace.
Zelenskyy welcomed the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing, expressing Ukraine’s commitment to moving quickly towards peace. He also indicated support for an air and sea ceasefire proposed by the U.S., while hoping that Russia would respond positively to pressure from the international community to end the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s silence on the ceasefire proposal, suggesting that Russia may be seeking to prolong the conflict and delay the peace process. The ongoing diplomatic efforts and negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the conflict in the region.
