On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin suggested tentative support for a cease-fire proposal from the United States and Ukraine but outlined several conditions that could significantly delay or prevent its implementation. Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Putin publicly addressed the cease-fire for the first time as U.S. officials arrived in Russia to discuss the plan already approved by President Zelensky.
Putin: “The concept itself is correct, and we certainly support it, but important issues must be thoroughly discussed with our American colleagues and partners.” These issues include whether Kyiv would continue receiving military supplies during the cease-fire and how the truce would be monitored and enforced.
Zelensky: Criticized Putin’s response as “predictable” and “manipulative,” accusing him of deliberately prolonging the war. Zelensky argued that Putin’s extensive preconditions were intended to derail the agreement or indefinitely delay its implementation.
Putin: Insisted that Ukrainian troops occupying territory in Russia’s Kursk region would not be allowed to withdraw peacefully, suggesting instead they could “simply surrender.” Notably, he did not repeat his earlier demand for Ukraine to withdraw from four contested regions claimed by Russia.
Putin planned to meet later Thursday with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, and indicated he might soon directly discuss the matter with Trump.
Trump: In a meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, confirmed “very serious discussions” with Putin and others. He expressed readiness to meet with Putin, adding that discussions with Ukraine included possible territorial concessions.
Russia recently intensified efforts to retake Kursk, with the Russian Defense Ministry claiming Thursday that it had recaptured the key town of Sudzha, though Ukraine has not confirmed this.
