Russian President Vladimir Putin He said on Thursday that Moscow was in favor of the principle of cessation of fire in the war against Ukraine, as proposed by the Donald Trump administration in the United States, but he asked questions that he said that Kremlin needed answers before he could be committed to a truce.
He said that Russia needed to discuss these questions and the terms of a peace proposal with the United States.
His comments, the first on the cessation of fire, led to criticism of Ukraine and a silenced response from Trump, who has oscillates between expressing his confidence in Putin’s commitment to a peace agreement and threatening Russia with new sanctions if he does not accept a cessation of fire.
This is what Putin said, the conditions he established for Moscow to support a high fire and how the United States and Ukraine have reacted to their recent statement:
What is the US-UKRAINE CESSORY OFFER?
On Tuesday, teams representing Washington and Kyiv met in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia to negotiate the terms of peace in Ukraine.
Following this meeting, the two countries published a joint statement, proposing an « immediate, provisional » Fire cessation of 30 days On the front of the war.
The statement emphasized « the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civil detainees, and the return of transferred Ukrainian children forced » during the period of cessation of fire.
The document did not mention sanctions on Russia or security guarantees for Ukraine, but mentioned that Ukraine’s European allies would be « involved in the peace process. »
The document also did not specify what would happen to the Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk in Russia.
What did Putin say about the cessation of fire?
Nothing, for almost two days.
Then, on Thursday, at a press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin responded to the fire cessation.
He said that the idea of a cessation of fire was « correct » and that Russia supported it, in principle. « We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities, » he told journalists in Moscow.
But he added, « there are problems we have to discuss, and I think we have to talk -with our north -American companions and partners and, perhaps, make a call with President Trump and discuss it with him. »
What « problems » do you want to solve Putin before a cessation of fire?
The Russian President described three questions and suggested that resolving them in a successful manner for Moscow would be the previous conditions for Kremlin to accept a cessation of fire.
How will the Kursk raid reproduce?
The first question Putin asked the Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk.
In August last year, the Ukrainian army launched a surprise Incursion to KurskGrabbing territory.
While the Russian army has now recovered 1,100 square km (425 square miles) of Kursk – Almost the entire area That the Ukrainian forces had taken: Kiev’s troops are still present.
« All those who will leave without a fight? Or will Ukrainian leadership order them to put weapons and surrender? “Putin questioned.
Will Ukraine mobilize troops and receive new weapons during the cessation of fire?
Putin also suggested that Ukraine could use a 30 -day resignation to mobilize new forces at a time when his troops face setbacks not only in Kursk, but also east of Ukraine, where Russia has gained slow gains in recent months.
During the press conference, Putin said that « Russian troops advance to almost every area of the front … as will these 30 days be used? For forced mobilization to continue in Ukraine, so that weapons are delivered there, to form the recently mobilized units? … How can we and how will we guarantee that nothing will happen? How will control be organized? »
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s Foreign Policy Advisor, also said on Thursday that the 30-day break in the fight would only help Ukrainian troops to regroup, considering the cessation of fire a « temporary breathing » for the Ukrainian army.
In recent months, Ukraine has suffered scarcity of labor. In January, Ukrainian troops retired from Kurakhove, a city in the Ukraine Donetsk region, when Russian troops claimed control.
Who will verify the cessation of the fire?
Putin also wondered how the cessation of fire would be controlled and who would guarantee that both parties follow the agreement.
« We come from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long -term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis, » he said.
« Who will give orders to stop hostilities? … who will determine where and who has raped a possible cessation agreement for 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles)? « »
How did the United States react?
Putin’s comments came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Russia to meet with Putin and other Russian officials. Although Witkoff is officially the Trump Middle East envoy, he has also participated in Russia’s relations.
Last month, he became the first high-level American official to travel to Russia since his Ukraine invasion of 2022. During this visit he achieved the launch of Fogel framea north – Alexander Vinnik. Witkoff was also part of the north -American team during negotiations with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, at the beginning of a meeting with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, Trump said that Putin had published « a very promising statement, but it was not complete. »
“We’ll see if Russia is there or not. And if they are not, it will be a very disappointing time for the world. « »
On Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, told CNBC that Trump is « ready to apply the maximum pressure on both sides », including sanctions in Russia.
Since the beginning of the war of February 2022, the United States and its allies have imposed at least 21,692 Sanctions on RussiaAimed at people, media organizations, military sector, energy sector, aviation, naval construction and telecommunications, among other sectors.
Last week, the United States temporarily suspended military aid and intelligence exchange in Ukraine, after a white house meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in acronym.
Help and exchange of intelligence were restored after the United States and Ukraine jointly agree on the 30 -day fire cessation agreement in Jeddah.
How has Ukraine reacted?
In his night address published on X on Thursday, Zelenskyy said that Putin is « preparing to reject » the proposal for cessation of fire.
« Putin is afraid to say -directly to President Trump who wants to continue this war and continue to kill Ukrainians, » Zelenskyy said.
Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher at the King’s College London Defense Studies Department, said that it would make sense for Russia to take into account the decision on the cessation of fire.
« Until the cessation of the fire is implemented and everyone is on the same page, time will spend, which will probably give the Russians the time needed to re -recover Kursk so that it eliminates possible negotiation bonuses for Ukraine, » Miron said in Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
In his address, Zelenskyy added: « Now is the time to increase the pressure on him (Putin). The sanctions must be applied, to work. » The Ukrainian leader said that his country is ready to continue working with its North -American and European partners to promote the peace process.
Can the United States and Ukraine to accept Russia’s terms of peace?
It is not clear. But some experts believe that Trump’s history suggests that the United States could try to host Putin’s concerns. If this happens, Ukraine can have no choice but to accept it.
« If past performance is any guide, Russia’s demands will be endorsed by the United States, » Keir Giles, a Senior Consulting Company at Chatham House Think Tank in London, told Al Jazeera.
« I think the Trump administration has shown Ukraine very clearly that Ukraine will not dictate the rules after the debacle in the Oval office, » Miron added.
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