Moscow: President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with US proposals to stop fighting but said that any ceasefire should lead to a long-lasting peace and would have to deal with the root causes of the conflict.
"We agree with proposals to cease hostilities, but on the basis that that cessation would lead to long-term peace and addresses the root causes of the crisis," Putin told a press conference in Moscow with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
The US has proposed a 30-day-long ceasefire which will end hostilities on the war front temporarily. The plan, backed by Kyiv, will include a truce on the sea, in the air and on land.
President Putin added that Russian troops are advancing in virtually every part of the front line in Ukraine. He also suggested that Russia would need to negotiate outstanding issues "with our American colleagues and partners" maybe on "a phone call with President Trump."
In the meantime, Trump's Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet Putin. Russian officials said US national security adviser Mike Waltz had provided details on the ceasefire idea on Wednesday and Russia was ready to discuss it.
Earlier, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the US plan of ceasefire in the war against Ukraine even as US President Donald Trump's top negotiator landed in Moscow for talks.
Yuri Ushakov, who is also on the Russian team for negotiations with the US, said on Russia's state television that the 30-day cease-fire would allow Ukraine's forces tim e to regroup. "This is nothing other than a temporary time-out for Ukrainian soldiers, nothing more. Our goal is a long-term peaceful resolution," he said, adding, "Steps that imitate peaceful actions are not needed". (Agencies)
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