Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he agrees in principle to a ceasefire in Ukraine, but simultaneously proposed a series of stringent conditions and expressed "doubts" about the specific nature of the ceasefire. Putin's statement is a response to the 30-day ceasefire plan previously reached after negotiations between Ukraine and the United States.
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03-14, 2025Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Putin's response to the ceasefire plan as "manipulative" and called for more sanctions against Russia. Simultaneously, the United States announced further sanctions on Russia's oil, gas, and banking sectors to increase economic pressure on Russia.
Putin stated at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday that the idea of a ceasefire is correct, and Russia supports it, but there are still some issues that need to be discussed. He emphasized that the ceasefire should ultimately lead to a "lasting peace and eliminate the root causes of this crisis." Putin also said that Russia needs to negotiate with American colleagues and partners and does not rule out the possibility of speaking with former US President Trump. He added that a 30-day ceasefire is beneficial to the Ukrainian side, but there are many "nuances" involved.
Putin pointed out that the Kursk region of Russia is one of the focal points of the dispute. Ukraine launched a military incursion into the region last year and occupied part of the territory. Putin claimed that Russia has completely controlled Kursk and stated that Ukrainian troops have been "isolated" and are trying to withdraw, but the Russian side controls the situation, and the equipment of the Ukrainian army has been abandoned. Putin even stated that Ukrainians in the Kursk region face the choice of "surrender or death."
Putin also elaborated on his doubts about how the ceasefire would operate, including how the 30 days would be used, whether Ukraine would use it for mobilization, rearmament, or training personnel. He also questioned how the ceasefire would be controlled, who would order the end of the fighting, and who would decide whether the ceasefire agreement had been violated along the 2,000-kilometer front line. He emphasized that all these issues require meticulous work from both sides and need to clearly define who will supervise the implementation of the ceasefire.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that Putin "didn't say no directly," but "in reality, he is preparing to refuse." He believes that Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war and continue killing Ukrainians. Zelenskyy criticized Putin for setting so many preconditions that "nothing will be achieved."
Ukraine hopes to adopt a two-stage strategy: first, to quickly achieve a ceasefire, and then to negotiate a longer-term solution. Russia, on the other hand, believes that the two processes cannot be separated and that all issues should be resolved in one agreement. Both sides seem to be sticking to their respective positions and unwilling to compromise.
Former US President Trump said at the White House after Putin's speech that he "hopes" Russia will "do the right thing" and agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire. He also said that he would be "very happy" to meet with Putin. Trump previously told reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that he had discussed specific details with Ukraine, including "the land they will keep and lose and all the other elements of the final agreement."
The US government also imposed new sanctions on the Russian oil and gas industry, further restricting its access to the US payment system, thereby making it more difficult for other countries to buy Russian oil. Meanwhile, Putin held a closed-door meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov had earlier rejected the US ceasefire proposal.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. It has been reported that more than 95,000 people fighting for the Russian army have died in the war. Ukraine last updated its casualty figures in December 2024, when President Zelenskyy acknowledged that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and officers had died. Western analysts believe that this figure is underestimated.
