President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia supported a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine in principle, but sought a number of clarifications and conditions that appeared to rule out a quick end to the fighting.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has left hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, displaced millions of people, reduced towns to rubble and triggered the sharpest confrontation for decades between Moscow and the West.
Putin's heavily qualified support for the U.S. ceasefire proposal looked designed to signal goodwill to Washington and open the door to further talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
But Putin said many crucial details needed to be sorted out and any agreement must address the root causes of the conflict. Russia called its 2022 invasion a "special military operation" designed to "denazify" Ukraine and halt an expansion of NATO.
"We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities," Putin told reporters at the Kremlin. "The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis."
He went on to list a slew of issues he said needed clarifying and thanked Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, for his efforts to end the war. Both Moscow and Washington now cast the conflict as a deadly proxy war that could have escalated into World War Three.
Trump, who said he was willing to talk to the Russian leader by phone, called Putin's statement "very promising" and said he hoped Moscow would "do the right thing."
Trump said Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, was engaged in talks with the Russians in Moscow on the U.S. proposal, which Kyiv has already agreed to.
The U.S. president said those discussions on Thursday would show if Moscow was ready to make a deal.
"Now we're going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they're not, it'll be a very disappointing moment for the world," he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin was preparing to reject the ceasefire proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.
"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a ceasefire these conditions, so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
TERRITORIAL QUESTIONS
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday she thinks Russia will likely say yes to a ceasefire but with conditions.
Speaking with Reuters on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' summit in Canada, Kallas said the U.S. has told members it understands that Russia may be playing a game to extend the process by blurring the picture.
Any delay would give Russia more time for its troops to push the last Ukrainian forces out of Russia's western Kursk region. Moscow also demands that Kyiv permanently cede territory claimed by Russia, a position that Ukraine rejects.
Ukraine and its allies describe Russia's 2022 invasion as an imperial-style land grab, and Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces. Russian forces control nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory and have been edging forward since mid-2024.
Trump said his administration has been discussing what land Ukraine would keep or lose under any settlement, as well as the future of a large power plant.
He did not name it but was likely referring to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine, Europe's largest nuclear plant. The two sides have accused each other of risking an accident at the plant with their actions.
Putin portrays the conflict as part of an existential battle with a declining and decadent West which he says humiliated Russia after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 by enlarging the NATO military alliance and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.
Putin said Russian forces were moving forward along the entire frontline and that the ceasefire would have to ensure that Ukraine did not seek to use it simply to regroup.
He also said he might call Trump to discuss the issue.
The United States agreed on Tuesday to resume weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv said it was ready to support a ceasefire proposal.
The Saudi state news agency said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Putin by phone and told him the kingdom remains committed to supporting a political resolution in Ukraine.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
71 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
Typical delay tactic from the War Criminal. He can drag this out indefinitely as long as there is no one intelligent enough to challenge him in the White House.
JJE
Fantastic idea in principle but there is no 'control and verification' protocols, nor have the details been ironed out.
Let's be honest with ourselves: at the moment, it's a 30 day reprieve for Kyiv to rearm and regroup its forces, which are on the backfoot.
Peter Neil
and at the same time, he told ukraine to "either surrender or die."
M3M3M3
Trump doesn't have the cards. There's no reason for Putin to accept any ceasefire.
Underworld
Expect Putin to delay and offer excuses and then some requirements that Ukraine won't accept.
Putin will not agree to the 30 days.
Putin does not want peace.
bass4funk
They will be, the main thing he got the ball moving and Putin responded, more work to be done.
Good point.
Underworld
bass4funk
Not really. Putin won't ever agree to the 30 day ceasefire, so all a waste of time.
JJE
The recent Saudi thing was more of a rubber-stamp under orders. One has to be realistic.
Because unlike Zelensky, Putin is negotiating from a position of strength, which makes any agreement far more complex. The days when the West could dictate terms to Russia are long over, and Trump likely understands that his leverage with Moscow is limited.
Also confirms the EU/UK elites are sidelined, which has been patently obvious for weeks now.
Ultimately, Ukraine's fate is no longer in its own hands. The decisions made in Washington, Moscow, and - ironically - Riyadh will shape the country's future. Whether Trump can strike a deal that satisfies all parties (meaning Moscow) remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: Ukraine's days as the central pillar of the West’s confrontation with Russia are coming to an end.
Ricky Kaminski13
TINChina have admired your comments for years and understand your standpoint from your own regional perspective and how it could relate to a similar future invasion of Taiwan, but I just want to know what the alternative to negotiating an end to the killing looks like, and how a bit of compromise from all sides leading to an end to this war could bad? The Trump derangement folks just have to hate everything Trump does and are incapable of celebrating even the most obvious of positives that come from his administration, to the extent that they would prefer a war than for him to be successful, butI doubt that is you.
I understand the Putin hatred and the emotions, but not the strategy. What would be your desired situation going forward? It’s a sincere and respectful question.
Underworld
JJE
And if Ukraine doesn't agree with the decisions, it won't sign a peace deal.
Underworld
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on Thursday that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia’s response to the cease-fire proposal was “very predictable, very manipulative.” “Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, wants to kill Ukrainians,” Zelensky said in his evening address. He said the Russian leader set so many preconditions “that nothing will work out at all or that it will not work out for as long as possible.”
I'veSeenFootage
Gotta love the MAGA loons pretending to care about peace and accusing people who don't want to a murderous dictator, whose soldiers have bombed, murdered and raped a sovereign country's population for the last 3 years, to get exactly what he wants of being "warmongers". Giving a win to Putin on Ukraine absolutely guarantees another invasion in the next few years. But all these Trump otakus care about is the appearance of their dear leader "winning".
bass4funk
Ok, you can think that, I don’t and remember, you’re not the President, so in the end, that’s all you have, an opinion, but anyway this happened and we will see what Vlad will do, main thing is, he responded.
stormcrow
In other words, we're going to keep dropping bombs and missiles on Ukraine's towns, cities, people, hospitals, apartment buildings, schools, churches, etc.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Trump has taken to riffing on Ukrainian territorial concessions. He should know he will be not be involved in any such discussion one way or another.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Do you think the RAF will be in Kyiv tomorrow? One thing is for sure, the EU with 3x the population of russia and 4x the GDP will not be pulling a Trump surrender for you.
Underworld
JJE
The West didn't want Russia to invade Ukraine, that's on Putin, and he can walk away from this imperialism at anytime.
quercetum
Ukraine’s territory - especially in the eastern part - comes from Russia anyway. It was given. Nothing is permanent. You either get along with your neighbors and treat their people with respect or deal with the consequences.
And learn the important lesson of not being a lackey of Europe, the US or NATO if your geography requires you to be neutral.
Well said by the unfiltered Trump. The Ukrainian government brought this on themselves.
quercetum
Thats what many want to fight on. Trump is peace.
Ricky Kaminski13
I'veSeenFootageToday 07:41 am JST
Another telling sign you are dealing with a collectivist who only feels the need to signal to his group rather than engage in any form of good will discussion about solutions to a complex problem. Complex meaning actual real people dying and stuff. They need to start with comments like, ‘ Gotta love the Maga loons’ for some sorted of skewed sense of legitimacy, it’s like a dog whistle to the angry mob to feel good about themselves.
Im just gunna take a wild guess and suggest that you guys are not big players in any field, with this tendency to talk AT people rather than TO them, I’d say you’d struggle a bit getting much done. Just a guess though. ;)
Still waiting for someone to engage in my simple question. What’s the game plan going forward if you refuse to negotiate? I just need one coherent answer that doesn’t involve name calling. Is there one?
Underworld
Ricky Kaminski13
Not a lot you can do if one side does not want peace.
If Trump can get Putin to the table and not demand the unreasonable (like demilitarizing Ukraine), then there is a chance for peace.
However, I very much doubt that Trump can. It's not Trump's fault, Putin still wants political control of Kyiv, and if he doesn't get it, he will keep fighting.
JJE
In public, it's a game of 'pass the ball', and Putin knows how the game is played. He didn't fall into the trap of lashing out against the offer. He attached not unreasonable conditions, explained why and volleyed the ball back with pragmatic class.
However, the real action is taking place behind closed doors: realpolitik poker - which boils down to who is holding the cards and playing the strongest hands etc. This is where it really happens.
Primusinter
There are only two settlements left in the Kursk region where fighting is going on. Only two, all the others have already been liberated. In addition, Russians crossed the border of Sumy region. Apparently, a referendum will have to be held in this region as well. We are waiting for developments.
Primusinter
Why do you always talk about Putin??? Show us in what words Ukraine agreed to these 30 days? So far, what I'm reading from negotiator Ermak is just no, no and no!
OssanAmerica
Just don't start any wars you bonehead.
Fos
The Texas oil companies have taking over Russian gas with more expensive LNG coming all the way from overseas with big ships and polluting the global environment. The White House has shipped over $110 billions of dollars of weapons since the start of the war, and wants to sell more, hence the temporary truce, to rearm Kyiv. Needless to remind the top 5 weapons manufacturers in the world all American, and the warlords of Wall Street are content since US financial stocks rose to historical records.
lincolnman
Putin will sign it - he likely wrote it - then gave it to his Orange Puppet to say it was his...
Antiquesaving
I would love to know why western media just repeats whatever is the official Ukrainian claims.
Ukraine hasn't held 200 square km in Kursk for some time now.
Even Deepstatemaps pro Ukrainian site and officially sanctioned by Ukraine shows Ukraine holding 2 unconnected areas each approximately 40 square km each so a total of 80 sqkm and that updated was over 10 hours ago.
Putin isn't going to agree or more likely will stall until Russia has not only completed retaking Kursk (which is either already done or will be by tomorrow at the present pace) but a good chunk of the Sumy border region as a buffer zone.
Zelensky made a major mistake, has he accepted Trump's offers at the start which was before the major Russian Kursk offensive, Putin would be in a weaker position, but Zelensky tried playing checkers while Trump and Putin were playing chess.
So now Ukraine no longer has a Kursk card to play and Putin has one less reason to make concessions.
Underworld
Antiquesaving
Zelenskyy agreed to a withdrawal of Kursk in SA as part of the peace process. Soon, there will be no troops in Kursk.
What? Do you mean Putin's offer? That wasn't an offer. It was an unreasonable demand.
Yeah, right. I don't think Trump can even play checkers. He has no idea what he is doing. Putin does.
ok1517
Of course Putain backs the cease fire - so he can resupply and continue his genocide!
And Donald doing is best to also get a piece of the Ukrainian cake.
Unacceptable!!!
HopeSpringsEternal
Lots of discussions remains, but highly constructive after Many Years under war hungry Biden Admin where ZERO effort was made to talk, let alone try to achieve peace.
DJT demonstrating his Humanity with rapid actions, as MOST in US, EU, Ukraine & Russia Want PEACE!
Antiquesaving
Zelensky keeps making one bad decision after another.
First trying to look strong and to force Western Europe to help more, he cuts off the Gas deal in January.
Then he rejected the deal Trump offered.
Results.
Russia used the now empty pipeline to infiltrate deep into Kursk behind Ukrainian lines, leading to the collapse of Ukraine's position in the region.
At the same time he rejected Trump, so he lost weapons and communication and the chance to freeze the lines before Russia recaptured Kursk.
And one has to wonder, the pipeline use by Russia was time number 3, you would think after the 2nd time in Avdiika Ukraine would have learned.
Fos
A bit more contest here about the White House involvement in this conflict and how we got to the present day.
Let’s not forget what former US Assistant Secretary of State for European Victoria Nuland said about the United States investing $5 billion in more than 20 years in Ukraine via the CIA, USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Money was allocated for “fair elections, to fight corruption and to develop the energy sector”. In 2014, Washington overthrew the legally elected president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych and installed a puppet government that had been selected by the neoconservatives in the White House.
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2015-05/ukraine-usa-maidan-finance/seite-2
Paul Novax
Another giant step for Trump.
Antiquesaving
Hahaha great rewrite of events.
He couldn't agree to something that was already a fact.
By the time Zelensky arrived in SA Ukrainian troops were already in full retreat.
Yeah yeah yeah, the same old junk, "Trump is a Putin asset" etc... got anything new, or are you just going to repeat the same silly nonsense the MSM in the far left keep pushing?
HopeSpringsEternal
Putin understands Ukraine war support proxy coalition is weakening every day, as voters in EU and US want the endless deadly $costly destructive war ended.
Plus, Ukraine's battlefield and economic situation goes from bad to worse daily.
So quite easy to understand why Putin is less motivated, especially as Zelenskyy, the brainchild behind military disaster unfolding in Kursk with his best troops.
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump has his longtime friend and business partner in Moscow because of his substantiated trust and confidence in his smarts and negotiation skillsets.
Far different approach than other Presidents, but Witkoff has a tough job because Trump often says, Ukraine "has no cards" and Zelenskyy has poor relations with DJT
Why Trump Admin busy meeting with Zelenskyy's Ukraine Political Rivals and pushing for rapid election.
Putin Recognizes Above Sets Up Favorable Negotiation
Yrral
Their no fool ,like Putin playing Trump for.a fool
Sh1mon M4sada
He's had over 3 years to think about a peace deal (more if you include Crimea), and he still wants more time? Sounds like, quacks like ...
fallaffel
Time to respond or look weak, Trump.
fallaffel
You posted the same debunked story the last several days. Move on please.
wallace
Putin accepts only with strong reservations and his demands.
HopeSpringsEternal
Zelenskyy busy twisting in the wind, as Putin's will drag a cease-fire agreement out, demanding as a pre-condition for acceptance, that Ukraine then hold elections ASAP
Both Trump and Putin clearly want to deal with the dully elected leader of the Ukraine, before attempting to codify a very difficult peace agreement. Zelenskyy's becoming daily a bigger Peace Problem for Ukraine
Primusinter
The situation is like this. Americans gathered with Ukrainians (this is one united side) and decided on an unconditional cease-fire from their common enemy. Nobody asked for Russia's opinion. Russia is winning, and Ukraine is losing. But Russia must let go the remnants of the defeated Ukrainian army in peace. With this "peaceful" proposal, America resumes supplying Ukraine with weapons (without which Ukrainians would not survive a day), supplying them with intelligence. And the same time Trump "peacemaker" is tightening sanctions against Russia. These are such "fair" initiatives.... But Putin is to blame in the situation.
Primusinter
The more reservations the better.
geronimo2006
Putin knows he can squeeze the maximum concessions out of Ukraine by manipulating Trump. Whether he can get Trump to force Ukraine to withdraw from territories he has annexed but not yet conquered is not clear yet. Trump hinted he might ramp up pressure on Russia, but I'm sure he'll be talked out of that. Putin will also probably demand other concessions from the US such as sanctions relief and a halt to all aid as part of the ceasefire deal. This will weaken Ukraine while he can consolidate and replenish his forces for a later push.
Underworld
Fos
This is demonstrably untrue. You can check news websites from the time to verify. Viktor Yanukovych signed a deal with the Rada to stay in power, but he agreed to things like the violence from the Berkut in the Maidan protest.
He then fled to Moscow the next day.
He wasn't overthrown.
Then the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, the chairperson of parliament Oleksandr Turchynov was appointed to the role of acting president by the Verkhovna Rada in accordance with article 112 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
Then elections were held.
So no interference from the WH and no puppet government.
TokyoLiving
Anyway, Putin wins..
TokyoLiving
He is the Putin's puppet..
LOL
Fos
No problems to keep repeating the same concept over again, to wake up the conscience of any rational human being, to show how the past and present US administrations are dragging the whole world community to ever lasting wars, while the usual warlords in America are getting rich on a stock markets with the huge weapons industry's profits.
The conflict in Eastern Europe, the ongoing o mass killings in Middle East, the anti-China hysteria, what next for the US big industrial military complex?
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
That won't happen.
Underworld
Fos
Move on please.
The problem is that it isn't true.
JJE
Second photo bottom, frame from the video, featuring Putin in camo looking across his right to a seated officer, face not visible. This is the local area Kursk zone commander - Valery Solodchuk.
When the former arrived in his vehicle he was greeted outside by Gerasimov. Inside the building he was greeted by Yevgeny Nikiforov, commander of the Western Military District (covering Kursk).
Also in on the meeting was Sergey Rudskoy (like above, not in photo but on the video) of the Main Operational Directorate - a common sight in various command buildings for a while now.
Mark these words: with this cast of characters in the one room and talk of "buffer zones", the region next door will be in the headlines before long.
Primusinter
I should add. You may remember the famous quote: "The goal of any operation should not be the territory, but the enemy's army. When the army ends, the territory will come itself".
So...The extermination of the Ukrainian army is going on now. Eradication of the Ukrainian gene pool is underway. The Ukrainian nation will not be reborn after that. America is not interested in either Ukrainians or Russians....At the moment, the Ukrainian army has only two options: either to die or to surrender...There is no third one. And no one in the world is touched by Zelensky's hysteria anymore.
Geeter Mckluskie
It's a start
Beats Starmer threatening boots on the ground and support from the air...hastening WW3
Fos
fallaffel
Talking about debunked stories, perhaps we want top hear the original audio, easily accessible, which tells the story how the US administration provoked the war in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoW75J5bnnE
History recap away from US military dispatches: the conflict in Eastern Europe began with the Maidan riots in February 2014, which resulted in a coup that ousted the democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovych. These riots, driven by meddling from figures like Victoria Nuland, John McCain, Geoffrey Pyatt and the CIA sparked a civil war.
We already mentioned about the American weapons industry and the Wall Street records, important to remember that since the outbreak of war in Ukraine and disruptions in pipeline flows from Russia, the United States has increased LNG sales to Europe by 140 percent.
The_Beagle
In this Putin is absolutely correct. The root causes of the need for the special military operation must be addressed. NATO must not admit Ukraine for memebership. NATo troops must not set foot on Ukraine. The Crimea and other ethnic Russian territories admitted to Russia must remain Russian. US biolabs must be removed from Ukraine.
HopeSpringsEternal
JT Posters don't decide this peace process, Ukrainian citizens want a leader who's duly elected and not called a "Dictator" by the US President Trump. Peace depends upon legitimacy, why should Putin deal with Zelenskyy?
If Putin were not duly elected, DJT & others would demand the same, that Russia provide a duly elected leader
wallace
Zelenskiy's approval rating has risen by 10 percentage points since his White House spat with U.S. President Donald. Zelenskiy's approval rating is 67%.
Trump approval rating is 47%.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
That won't happen.
So, I don't know why you, a JT poster, think you can.
Zelenskyy was elected and he's is immensely popular in Ukraine.
That's on Trump. If anyone is a dictator, it's Putin.
Why should Zelenskyy deal with Putin?
Underworld
The_Beagle
NATO membership isn't the root cause. The root cause is Putin's imperialism.
Why not?
Nope. They are Ukrainian.
There aren't any.
stormcrow
Putin doesn’t want peace, he wants victory.
He’s not going to negotiate, he’ll just delay, delay and delay.
Why would he want to do anything else? And now he has President Dumbo directing the peace process.
Putin is winning, unless Trump has an epiphany and gives Ukraine the help it needs, but that looks highly doubtful.
Putin is indeed holding all of the cards, including the Trump Card.
Cephus
"Putin backs U.S. ceasefire idea for Ukraine in principle, but suggests it needs reworking."
At least that's a good start.
lincolnman
All this work when peace could be achieved in one day if Putin would;
Pull back all his invasion forces inside Ukraine to Russia, return the borders to those before the invasion, apologize and promise to never invade the sovereign territory of another nation, commit to Russian funding all Ukraine reconstruction efforts, and admit to his war crimes and is held accountable...
How about it Vlad, really ready for "peace"?
Antiquesaving
I think both sides need to move on.
You all just repeat the same fake or distorted information.
One side claims it is all the west/USA, the other claims it is all Putin/Russia.
In reality it is both/all the above.
Yes the west put it's nose into an area it knew would cause Russia to react, and yes Putin used this to "justify" his long desired territorial grab.
But it is just a joke.
One constantly claiming NATO wants to invade Russia, and parroting everything Moscow says etc... even when long debunked the other keeps repeating the same fake 72 hours the "Trump is a Russian asset" and parroting everything Kiyv says etc .. even after it has long been debunked.
Pretty pathetic!
u_s__reamer
The smirking Kremlin chess-player is many moves ahead of the pouty desk-bound checkers dimwit.
Antiquesaving
I wouldn't put too much faith in any poll taken in Ukraine (or in Russia for that matter).
Under the present laws anyone could be arrested for saying the wrong thing.
Saying they don't support Zelensky could be taken as not supporting the war and being pro Russia and a crime.
Like in Russia freedom of speech doesn't exist at this time in Ukraine.
Remember despite all the facts, all the videos showing the "recruitment" methods in Ukraine, when JD Vance mentioned it to Zelensky he outright denied it, even BBC one of the biggest cheering sections for Ukraine did an entire segment criticising what they called " press gags" in Ukraine.
So if Ukraine says Zelensky has 67% approval then we can probably divide that by two, no one wants to end up in the wrong security services list.
JJE
The special envoy, mentioned in the article, was filmed by media departing the US embassy in Moscow. According to publicly available flight tracking data, his jet departed said city some time ago. No word/comment on any possible meetings or developments. Looks like cards are being kept close to the chest.
Fos
Antiquesaving
You are entitled to your opinion, and I don't dispute it. What I found pathetic and profoundly immoral is that, while we have this geopolitical instability and total chaos, the US financial markets are reaping the benefits of all the deaths and destructions all over the world, from Eastern Europe, to Middle East, to the next bet placed on Taiwan. Numbers and records are there as unambiguous evidence, and the major US weapons manufacturers, controlled by the main hedge funds in Wall Street are the driving force in Washington. This mendacious propaganda only serves their greed and hypocrisy which has nothing to do with ideals and a greater good for democracies.
Underworld
Fos
Completely untrue.
Paul Novax
This is good progress by Trump. At least there is a plan on the table, other than keep supplying Ukraine with money and weapons, a plan that failed miserably under Biden.