Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for a ceasefire in Ukraine but insists on addressing “questions” before any truce takes effect.
His response follows Ukraine’s agreement to a 30-day ceasefire proposal after discussions with the US.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin’s stance as “manipulative” and called for increased sanctions on Russia.
Meanwhile, the US imposed further restrictions on Russia’s oil, gas, and banking sectors. Russian officials indicated that Putin was set to meet with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Thursday evening. It still remains unclear whether the meeting occurred. Russian state media later cited air traffic monitoring data showing that Witkoff’s plane had departed Moscow, with neither Moscow nor Washington offering confirmation.
Despite talks of a ceasefire, hostilities persisted overnight, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting drone attacks.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE: ‘Putin went through a hell of a lot with me’ — Trump
Ukraine stated that seven people, including children, were injured in Kharkiv, while Russia reported a fire at an oil facility in Tuapse.
Speaking in Moscow on Thursday, Putin acknowledged the ceasefire proposal, stating, “The idea is right—and we support it—but there are questions that we need to discuss.”
He emphasised that any truce should lead to “an enduring peace and remove the root causes of this crisis.”
Among the concerns he raised were Ukraine’s past military actions in Russia’s Kursk region, where he claimed Ukrainian forces had been isolated. “There are two options for Ukrainians in Kursk—surrender or die,” he declared.
Putin also outlined critical questions about the proposed ceasefire, asking how the 30-day period would be used, how compliance would be monitored, and who would enforce the terms.
“How will those 30 days be used? For Ukraine to mobilize? Rearm? Train people? Or none of that? Then a question—how will that be controlled?” he asked.
Zelensky responded by accusing Putin of setting up impossible conditions to derail the process. “Putin doesn’t say no directly,” Zelensky said, “but in practice, he’s preparing a rejection.”
He further claimed that Putin feared admitting to Trump that he wanted to continue the war.
Currently, Ukraine and Russia remain at odds over the peace process. Ukraine supports a two-step approach: an immediate ceasefire followed by negotiations for a long-term settlement. Russia, however, insists that all terms be settled in a single deal.
Speaking at the White House, Trump stated, “We’d like to see a ceasefire from Russia.” He expressed hope that Putin would agree to the truce and confirmed discussions with Ukraine over territorial arrangements. “We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement,” Trump said.
The US ramped up sanctions on Russian oil and gas, further limiting Moscow’s access to American financial systems. Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed the US-backed ceasefire plan.
On Wednesday, Russia released footage of Putin visiting Kursk in military fatigues, reinforcing his claim of full control over the region. The Kremlin later announced the recapture of Sudzha, a key town in the area.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, with Moscow now controlling roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Casualty figures remain heavily disputed. The BBC estimates over 95,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, though Moscow has not publicly updated its numbers since 2022.
Ukraine has last reported 43,000 military deaths in December 2024, a figure Western analysts believe to be an underestimate.
(BBC)
and then