Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed in principle with a United States proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasised that it should pave the way to lasting peace. Source: SMH.
“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Mr Putin told a news conference in Moscow overnight. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”
He noted the need to develop a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce. Another issue, he said, is whether Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to rearm.
“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Mr Putin said.
Mr Putin made the remarks just hours after the arrival of US President Donald Trump’s envoy in Moscow for talks on the 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has accepted.
Mr Putin thanked Mr Trump “for paying so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine”.
On Wednesday, the US lifted its March 3 suspension of military aid for Kyiv after senior American and Ukrainian officials reported making progress on how to stop the fighting during talks in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Trump had said that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire. The president has made veiled threats to hit Russia with new sanctions if it does not engage with peace efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chided Russia on the Telegram messaging app for what he said was its slow response to the ceasefire proposal, accusing Moscow of trying to delay any peace deal.
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Russia backs US idea of ceasefire proposal in Ukraine, but wants more details (AP via Sydney Morning Herald)
