Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Update
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed conditional support for a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine during a Moscow press conference Thursday, stating "The idea itself is correct and we certainly support it, but there are issues that we need to discuss."
Putin indicated he would like to speak directly with US President Donald Trump about the proposal, emphasizing that any truce should lead to a "long-term peace" that addresses "the causes of this crisis." He also raised concerns about monitoring and verification along the nearly 2,000-kilometer front line.
President Trump took an optimistic stance when speaking to reporters during NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's White House visit, saying "We're getting word that things are going OK in Russia." However, he cautioned that "it doesn't mean anything until we hear what the final outcome is" and that Russia's refusal would be "a very disappointing moment for the world."
Trump revealed that preliminary discussions with Ukraine have begun regarding a potential final agreement, including territorial considerations and control of a large power plant, likely the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized Putin's response as "very predictable, very manipulative," suggesting that "Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war."
The ceasefire proposal follows talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Meanwhile, according to a US assessment, Ukrainian forces will likely need to fully withdraw from Russia's Kursk region within approximately a week.