Putin says he’s open to ceasefire, but wants to eliminate ’causes of this crisis’
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is open to a 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the U.S., but suggested vague terms for his support, including wanting to eliminate the root “causes of this crisis.”
Ukraine agreed to support the framework in talks with the U.S. earlier this week, and the Trump administration has called for Russia to sign on, with special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff visiting Moscow on Thursday.
“The idea itself is the right one, and we definitely support it,” Putin said of the ceasefire during a Thursday news conference. “But there are questions that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk them through with our American colleagues and partners.”
Putin, in his first public comments about the 30-day ceasefire, said some of the issues to work on are whether Ukraine would utilize the ceasefire to reload, what happens with Ukraine’s troops in Russia’s Kursk region, and how the truce would be overseen.
“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Russia’s president said.
Putin also thanked President Trump “for paying so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine,” according to The Associated Press.
Putin is reportedly set to meet Witkoff on Thursday. Witkoff’s plane appeared to land at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport earlier in the day, according to FlightRadar’s data.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday, sitting alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, that he was cautiously optimistic about Putin’s response.
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“Based on statements he made today, they were pretty positive,” Trump said. “I hope Russia is going to make the deal too.”
Putin’s Thursday remarks appeared to contradict his adviser’s comment from earlier in the day. Yuri Ushakov, Russia’s ex-ambassador to the U.S. and senior aide to Putin, said the proposed ceasefire would only be beneficial to Ukraine while Russia would not get anything in return.
“A 30-day temporary ceasefire. Well, what does it give us? It gives us nothing.” Ushakov said in an interview with Russian media. “It only gives the Ukrainians the opportunity to regroup, gather strength and continue the same thing in the future.”
Ushakov said Kremlin is looking for a “long-term peaceful settlement.” He spoke with national security adviser Mike Waltz on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated earlier this week, after Ukraine expressed willingness to greenlight the ceasefire, that the ball was in Russia’s court.
“Our hope is that the Russians will say yes, that they will also agree, so the shooting will stop, the killing will stop, the dying will stop, and the talks can begin about how to end this war permanently, in a way that’s acceptable and enduring for both sides,” Rubio said.
Rubio and Waltz met with senior Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, a huddle that was seen as a way to help repair relations between Kyiv and Washington, after the heated Feb. 28 meeting between Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
The U.S. announced it would restore military and intelligence assistance following the talks in Jeddah.
Zelensky reiterated once again Thursday that Ukraine is prepared to strike a ceasefire.
“Ukraine was ready for an air and sea ceasefire, but the US proposed extending it to land. Ukraine welcomes this proposal. The control of such a ceasefire remains an important issue, and we appreciate the United States’ willingness to organize the technical aspects of such control,” Zelensky wrote Thursday morning on X.
Zelensky also dinged Russia for not providing a “meaningful response” to the proposal.
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” he said.
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THE HILL