Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that while Russia supports a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine in principle, hostilities cannot pause until key conditions are clarified or met.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, and left cities in ruins. It has also escalated tensions between Moscow and the West to levels not seen in decades. Putin’s cautious endorsement of the U.S. ceasefire proposal appears aimed at signaling goodwill to Washington and keeping the door open for further negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, Putin emphasized that any agreement must address what Russia sees as the root causes of the war—a condition that suggests a ceasefire may take longer to achieve than Trump hopes.
"We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities," Putin told reporters at the Kremlin. "The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But we believe this ceasefire must lead to lasting peace and address the underlying causes of this crisis."
Among Russia’s demands, Putin has insisted that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations, accept Russian control over four occupied regions, and limit the size of its military. He has also called for Western sanctions to be eased and for Ukraine to hold a presidential election—something Kyiv says is premature under martial law.
Putin outlined several ceasefire-related issues requiring clarification and thanked Trump, who has positioned himself as a peacemaker, for his efforts to end the war. Both Moscow and Washington now characterize the conflict as a high-stakes proxy war with the potential to escalate into a global crisis.
Trump, who has expressed willingness to speak with Putin directly, described the Russian leader’s comments as "very promising" and urged Moscow to "do the right thing." He confirmed that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the U.S. proposal—an offer Ukraine has already accepted.
"Now we're going to see whether or not Russia is ready," Trump said. "If they’re not, it will be a very disappointing moment for the world."
Zelenskiy: Putin Stalling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced skepticism, arguing that Putin is merely buying time and is reluctant to openly reject Trump’s proposal.
"In Moscow, they are attaching conditions to the ceasefire so that nothing happens at all, or so that it’s delayed as long as possible," Zelenskiy said in his nightly address.
Territorial Disputes and Western Concerns
The West and Ukraine see Russia’s 2022 invasion as an attempt at imperial conquest, with Russian forces now controlling nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory and advancing further since mid-2024.
Putin, meanwhile, portrays the war as a struggle against a declining and corrupt West, accusing NATO of threatening Russia by expanding into what he considers Moscow’s sphere of influence—including Ukraine.
European leaders worry that Trump may be willing to strike a broad deal with Putin, possibly involving China, oil prices, Middle East policy, and Ukraine—potentially at the expense of European interests.
Putin insisted that any ceasefire must prevent Ukraine from using the pause to regroup militarily.
"How can we be guaranteed that this won’t happen? How will ceasefire control be organized?" Putin asked. "These are serious questions that need answers. We need to discuss them, including with our American colleagues."
He also hinted at a possible call with Trump to discuss the matter further.
Trump, in turn, acknowledged that his administration is already discussing territorial divisions and key infrastructure control as part of a potential settlement, including the future of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility.
Kursk Offensive Raises Questions
Any delay in securing a ceasefire could give Russia more time to consolidate gains, including in western Kursk, where Moscow has launched a rapid offensive against Ukrainian forces that entered the region last August.
Putin questioned how a ceasefire would impact the situation there.
"If we halt hostilities for 30 days, what does that mean? That everyone there will leave without a fight?" he asked.
Next Steps
With negotiations ongoing, the world is watching to see if Russia is truly ready for peace—or if the war will continue to escalate.
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