Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled cautious support for a U.S.-backed ceasefire in Ukraine but made it clear he won’t agree to an immediate pause in fighting.
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said he backs the “idea” of a truce but stressed that any deal must lead to a lasting peace and address what he calls the “root causes” of the conflict.
His remarks came in response to a 30-day ceasefire proposal agreed by Ukraine earlier this week.
While Putin didn’t outright reject the idea, he raised concerns about how it would be enforced and whether it would simply give Ukraine time to rebuild its military.
One of Putin’s key demands is that Western nations stop supplying weapons to Ukraine as part of any peace agreement. He also pointed to Russia’s recent battlefield gains, particularly in the Kursk region, questioning why Moscow should halt its advance now.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, arrived in Moscow for talks.
Putin confirmed he would discuss the ceasefire plan but suggested complex negotiations would be needed before Russia commits.
“The idea itself is good, and we of course support it, but there are questions we have to discuss,” he said, hinting at a long road ahead for diplomacy.
