Vladimir Putin has said he agrees to the idea of the US ceasefire on the “assumption” that this will lead to “long-term peace,” but he said he has lots of questions surrounding this.
Putin thanked the US President Donald Trump for paying “so much attention to regulating the conflict in Ukraine.”
Putin said he has a lot “of questions about the ceasefire.”
“The idea is good and we absolutely support it, but there are issues we need to discuss, and I think we need to negotiate with our American colleagues,” he said.
Putin added, “we agree with the proposals for the ceasefire, but our position is based on the assumption that the ceasefire would lead to long-term peace, something that would remove the initial reasons for the crisis.”
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Putin said that Russian forces are on the offensive across all areas along the frontlines and placed a caveat that any next steps will have to take into account the “fast changing” developments, which could be pretext to the Russian leading wanting Kyiv to cede all occupied territory.
He said that during his visit to Kursk region the situation there is now “completely under our control.”
“Ukraine’s control over the Ukrainian forces has been lost.
“If there is a physical blockade, in the next two days, nobody will be able to leave. There will be only two ways: surrender or die.”
Putin continued, “We are in favour of a 30-day ceasefire, but there are nuances.
“First of all, what are we going to do about this incursion in Kursk?
“If we ceased hostilities for 30 days, would it mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they committed serious crimes against civilians there?
“How will other aspects be dealt with along with 2,000-kilometre contact line? As you know, the Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector of the contact line, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large [Ukrainian] units,” he added.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff who is in Moscow will meet with Putin this evening, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed.
“The meeting between Whitkoff and President Vladimir Putin will begin this evening in a closed format,” Russian newspaper Izvestia reported, citing Ushakov.
