Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined strict conditions for a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, demanding major concessions from Kyiv while insisting that any truce must address the “root causes” of the war.
Though he did not outright reject the US-brokered proposal, his remarks signaled Moscow’s reluctance to accept a temporary halt in fighting without significant guarantees.
“We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities, but we must ensure that this ceasefire leads to a lasting peace,” Putin said at a news conference Thursday. He repeated the Kremlin’s long-standing claim that Ukraine’s government is part of the problem and suggested that any deal must include restrictions on Kyiv’s military mobilization, troop training, and foreign arms supplies.
His remarks came as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to brief Kremlin officials on the ceasefire plan. Ukrainian officials had already agreed to the proposal after negotiations with US representatives in Saudi Arabia earlier this week. However, Putin questioned key details, including how the truce would be enforced and how Kyiv might use the pause in fighting to its advantage.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions in both Moscow and Washington. US President Donald Trump called Putin’s response “promising but incomplete,” saying he was open to further discussions. “I’d love to meet with them or talk to him, but we have to get this over with fast. Every day, people are being killed,” Trump said, adding that territorial concessions were already being discussed as part of a potential final settlement.
In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of stalling rather than rejecting the deal outright. “Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war,” Zelensky said, calling the Russian leader’s response “very manipulative.”
Some Russian officials took a harder stance than Putin. Kremlin aide Yuriy Ushakov argued that a ceasefire would merely give Ukraine’s forces a “temporary respite” and insisted that Russia’s military momentum should not be interrupted. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova went further, stating that Russia would not tolerate any foreign military presence in Ukraine, whether as peacekeepers, military bases, or under any other designation.
Meanwhile, the Russian military claimed on Thursday that it had recaptured the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, which had been occupied by Ukrainian forces. If confirmed, this would mark a symbolic victory for Moscow and could weaken Kyiv’s leverage in ongoing negotiations.
With ceasefire talks still in progress, tensions remain high. While Moscow has not outright rejected the US plan, its demands suggest that any pause in hostilities will be difficult to secure without major concessions. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether diplomacy can bring a temporary halt to the conflict or if fighting will escalate once again.
