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[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/news/putin-questions-us-backed-ukraine-ceasefire-plan-3847756[/URL]Putin questions US-backed Ukraine ceasefire planSays lots need to be discussed before a deal; Trump says Putin's statement ‘promising’ but ‘not complete’; Russia says it is on the verge of regaining Kursk region।[ATTACH=full]15417[/ATTACH]Photo: AFPVladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce.Speaking at a press conference at the Kremlin alongside the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said that he agreed in principle with US proposals to halt the fighting but said he wanted to address the "root causes of the conflict"."The idea [US ceasefire] itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin said.But he suggested that Ukraine should neither rearm nor mobilise and that western military aid to Kyiv be halted during the 30-day ceasefire.Donald Trump responded briefly before a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, saying that Putin had "made a very promising statement, but it was not complete".The US president said he was "ready to talk to Putin"."We will see if Russia agrees, and if not, it will be a very disappointing moment," he said. "I would like to see a ceasefire from Russia. We hope that Russia will do the right thing."Putin claimed that Ukraine was seeking a ceasefire because of the battlefield situation, asserting that Russian forces were "advancing almost everywhere" and nearing full control of the Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a surprise incursion last year."How will these 30 days of [ceasefire] be used? To continue forced mobilisation in Ukraine? To supply weapons to Ukraine? … These are legitimate questions," he said.Ukraine has previously indicated it would continue its mobilisation efforts during the 30-day ceasefire."We need to discuss this with our American partners –perhaps a call with Donald Trump," Putin added, thanking the US president for his involvement in the peace negotiations.By avoiding an outright rejection of Trump's ceasefire proposal, Putin appears to be balancing between not openly rebuffing Trump's push for peace while also imposing his own stringent demands – potentially prolonging negotiations.The Russian president had travelled to the Kursk region the day before on a rare battlefield visit, where he spoke with Russian troops who were on the verge of expelling Ukrainian forces from the land it captured last year."What will happen in the Kursk region? Will an order be given for the troops stationed there to surrender?" Putin asked."How the situation along the frontline will be resolved remains unclear," he added.Ukraine has not officially confirmed an organised retreat from the Kursk region but Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that "the military command is doing what it should do – saving the maximum number of lives of our soldiers"."It's over. The only question now is managing the withdrawal with as few losses as possible," a source in Ukraine's military who recently left Kursk region said on Thursday.But while Ukraine appears to be withdrawing from the Kursk region, Kyiv has largely stabilised the front in eastern Ukraine, where a Russian offensive has stalled in recent weeks.Putin's remarks came hours after the jet of Trump's envoy, Steven Witkoff landed in Moscow, where the close Trump ally is expected to meet with the Russian leader to push for a ceasefire following Washington's talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.After talks with top US diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine said it was ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire and the United States said it was putting the proposal to Moscow.Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov earlier in the day said he had informed US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Moscow views the proposed 30-day ceasefire as "nothing more than a short reprieve for Ukrainian forces".Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to discuss a US-backed peace initiative "as early as today". But she also indicated that Russia saw little urgency in halting fighting, reiterating it would not accept Western peacekeepers in Ukraine as a security guarantee and that they would be targeted if deployed.Ukraine has said it would need some kind of security guarantee in order to sign a lasting ceasefire deal.Moscow's continued resistance to European peacekeeping forces – seen by Ukraine as the only viable alternative to Nato membership for guaranteeing its security – presents a major obstacle to a peace acceptable to Kyiv.Observers believe Putin is determined to put forward a string of maximalist demands before agreeing to any ceasefire, which is likely to prolong negotiations.Reuters and Bloomberg have reported that Russia, in discussions with the US, has presented a list of such demands to end the war in Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the media reports.These demands could include the demilitarisation of Ukraine, an end to western military aid, and a commitment to keeping Kyiv out of Nato. Moscow may also push for a ban on foreign troop deployments in Ukraine and international recognition of Putin's claims to Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed in 2022.Putin could also revisit some of his broader demands from 2021, which go beyond Ukraine, including a call for Nato to halt the deployment of weapons in member states that joined after 1997, when the alliance began expanding into former communist countries.Many in Europe fear these conditions for peace could weaken the West's ability to increase its military presence and could allow Putin to expand his influence across the continent.Moscow's confident rhetoric is reinforced by its recent battlefield gains. On Thursday, the Kremlin said its forces were in the final stages of expelling Ukraine's army from the Kursk region, where Kyiv had seized Russian territory last year in the hope of using it as leverage in peace negotiations.The Russian military announced on Thursday it had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine held in the region, while Kyiv has indicated that an organised withdrawal is underway.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/news/putin-questions-us-backed-ukraine-ceasefire-plan-3847756[/URL]
Putin questions US-backed Ukraine ceasefire plan
Says lots need to be discussed before a deal; Trump says Putin's statement ‘promising’ but ‘not complete’; Russia says it is on the verge of regaining Kursk region।
[ATTACH=full]15417[/ATTACH]
Photo: AFP
Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce.
Speaking at a press conference at the Kremlin alongside the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said that he agreed in principle with US proposals to halt the fighting but said he wanted to address the "root causes of the conflict".
"The idea [US ceasefire] itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin said.
But he suggested that Ukraine should neither rearm nor mobilise and that western military aid to Kyiv be halted during the 30-day ceasefire.
Donald Trump responded briefly before a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, saying that Putin had "made a very promising statement, but it was not complete".
The US president said he was "ready to talk to Putin".
"We will see if Russia agrees, and if not, it will be a very disappointing moment," he said. "I would like to see a ceasefire from Russia. We hope that Russia will do the right thing."
Putin claimed that Ukraine was seeking a ceasefire because of the battlefield situation, asserting that Russian forces were "advancing almost everywhere" and nearing full control of the Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a surprise incursion last year.
"How will these 30 days of [ceasefire] be used? To continue forced mobilisation in Ukraine? To supply weapons to Ukraine? … These are legitimate questions," he said.
Ukraine has previously indicated it would continue its mobilisation efforts during the 30-day ceasefire.
"We need to discuss this with our American partners –perhaps a call with Donald Trump," Putin added, thanking the US president for his involvement in the peace negotiations.
By avoiding an outright rejection of Trump's ceasefire proposal, Putin appears to be balancing between not openly rebuffing Trump's push for peace while also imposing his own stringent demands – potentially prolonging negotiations.
The Russian president had travelled to the Kursk region the day before on a rare battlefield visit, where he spoke with Russian troops who were on the verge of expelling Ukrainian forces from the land it captured last year.
"What will happen in the Kursk region? Will an order be given for the troops stationed there to surrender?" Putin asked.
"How the situation along the frontline will be resolved remains unclear," he added.
Ukraine has not officially confirmed an organised retreat from the Kursk region but Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that "the military command is doing what it should do – saving the maximum number of lives of our soldiers".
"It's over. The only question now is managing the withdrawal with as few losses as possible," a source in Ukraine's military who recently left Kursk region said on Thursday.
But while Ukraine appears to be withdrawing from the Kursk region, Kyiv has largely stabilised the front in eastern Ukraine, where a Russian offensive has stalled in recent weeks.
Putin's remarks came hours after the jet of Trump's envoy, Steven Witkoff landed in Moscow, where the close Trump ally is expected to meet with the Russian leader to push for a ceasefire following Washington's talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After talks with top US diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine said it was ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire and the United States said it was putting the proposal to Moscow.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov earlier in the day said he had informed US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Moscow views the proposed 30-day ceasefire as "nothing more than a short reprieve for Ukrainian forces".
Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to discuss a US-backed peace initiative "as early as today". But she also indicated that Russia saw little urgency in halting fighting, reiterating it would not accept Western peacekeepers in Ukraine as a security guarantee and that they would be targeted if deployed.
Ukraine has said it would need some kind of security guarantee in order to sign a lasting ceasefire deal.
Moscow's continued resistance to European peacekeeping forces – seen by Ukraine as the only viable alternative to Nato membership for guaranteeing its security – presents a major obstacle to a peace acceptable to Kyiv.
Observers believe Putin is determined to put forward a string of maximalist demands before agreeing to any ceasefire, which is likely to prolong negotiations.
Reuters and Bloomberg have reported that Russia, in discussions with the US, has presented a list of such demands to end the war in Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the media reports.
These demands could include the demilitarisation of Ukraine, an end to western military aid, and a commitment to keeping Kyiv out of Nato. Moscow may also push for a ban on foreign troop deployments in Ukraine and international recognition of Putin's claims to Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed in 2022.
Putin could also revisit some of his broader demands from 2021, which go beyond Ukraine, including a call for Nato to halt the deployment of weapons in member states that joined after 1997, when the alliance began expanding into former communist countries.
Many in Europe fear these conditions for peace could weaken the West's ability to increase its military presence and could allow Putin to expand his influence across the continent.
Moscow's confident rhetoric is reinforced by its recent battlefield gains. On Thursday, the Kremlin said its forces were in the final stages of expelling Ukraine's army from the Kursk region, where Kyiv had seized Russian territory last year in the hope of using it as leverage in peace negotiations.
The Russian military announced on Thursday it had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine held in the region, while Kyiv has indicated that an organised withdrawal is underway.
