Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed agreement with the idea of a US-backed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but emphasized that the details must be discussed and that any truce should pave the way for lasting peace.
“We support the proposal to halt hostilities,” Putin said during a press conference at the Kremlin on Thursday after meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
“But we believe that this cessation should lead to a long-term peace and address the root causes of the crisis,” he added.
Putin acknowledged the ceasefire as a positive step but stressed the need for further discussions. “The idea itself is sound, and we support it. However, there are issues that require clarification,” he said. “We also need to engage in talks with our American counterparts.”
Following Putin’s remarks, US President Donald Trump described the statement as “very promising” but incomplete, adding that he was open to meeting or speaking with the Russian leader. He also noted that special US envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow for discussions on the ceasefire proposal.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s response, calling it “highly manipulative.”
“He is already setting the stage for a rejection,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, asserting that Putin “is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he intends to continue this war and kill Ukrainians.”
Next Steps
Putin’s comments marked his first public response to the US-backed ceasefire plan since Ukraine signaled its willingness to accept the proposal after discussions with US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Following the meeting, Washington announced it would resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv after a temporary suspension.
Despite expressing support for a ceasefire, Putin also outlined several issues that he said require further clarification.
