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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia agrees in principle with the United States' ceasefire proposal, but key terms still need to be negotiated. He stressed that any agreement should lead to lasting peace and address the root causes of the conflict.
Putin pointed out that Ukrainian troops remain encircled in their last foothold in Russia's Kursk region, and it must be determined whether they will surrender before the ceasefire takes effect.
Speaking to reporters before his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump reiterated his call for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine.
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"You don't want to waste time with a ceasefire if it's not going to mean anything. So we're saying, 'This is what you can get. This is what you can't get,'" Trump said.
"Now we're going to see whether or not Russia is there and if they're not, it will be a very disappointing moment for the world," he added.
Later, appearing with Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump called Putin's remarks "promising but incomplete."
Why It Matters
The ceasefire proposal, presented by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff during negotiations in Moscow, was already accepted by Ukraine in talks held in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
The diplomatic effort coincided with a Russian claim that its troops have driven the Ukrainian military out of a key town in Russia's Kursk border region, where Moscow has been trying for seven months to dislodge Ukrainian forces from their foothold.
What To Know
On Thursday, Putin also emphasized the need to establish a mechanism to monitor potential violations of the truce and raised concerns about whether Ukraine might use the 30-day ceasefire to mobilize troops and rearm.
"We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis," Putin said.
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Putin observed that while the U.S. appears to have persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire, Kyiv's motivation likely stems from the battlefield situation. He pointed out that Ukrainian forces that entered the Kursk region are on the verge of being completely encircled in the coming days.
"Under these conditions, I believe it would be beneficial for Ukraine to secure a ceasefire for at least 30 days," he said.
Earlier on Thursday, a senior Kremlin official rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, saying Russia was only interested in a long-term resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian media reported.
What People Are Saying
Brian Taylor, professor of political science at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, told Newsweek via email: "It's important to listen carefully to what Putin is saying. He supported the idea of a ceasefire in general, but then proceeded to stress the need to address the 'root causes' of the conflict. To Putin, the 'root cause' of the conflict is Ukraine's desire to be an independent country and choose it's own path in domestic and foreign policy. Further, he pointed to 'nuances' and proceeded to ask at least sixteen questions about the details of any ceasefire agreement. Putin's answer seems carefully crafted to sound like a 'yes' to Trump but be a 'no' in practice, unless Ukraine is forced to submit to Russia's demands."
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told Russia-1: "We believe that our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement. We strive for this, a peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country, our well-known concerns. It seems to me that no one needs any steps that imitate peaceful actions in this situation."
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said in a statement Tuesday: "The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump's vision for peace, they share his determination to end the fighting, to end the killing, to end the tragic meat grinder of people."
Ukraine President Volodymir Zelensky said in a video address on Sunday: "We hope for results, both in bringing peace closer and in continuing support."
What Happens Next
Witkoff is set to meet with Putin on Thursday night in Moscow.
"The meeting between Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin will take place in a closed format this evening," Ushakov told the Russian state-owned news outlet Izvestia.
This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.
Update 3/13/25, 12:58 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/13/25, 12:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/13/25, 1:26 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/13/25, 2:03 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and remarks by Trump.
Update 3/13/25, 2:23 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information remarks.
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