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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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A senior Kremlin official rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, as proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, saying Russia was only interested in a long-term resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian media reported.
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, gave an interview to the Russia-1 TV channel.
"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," Ushakov said, according to Interfax. "It seems to me that no one needs any steps that imitate peaceful actions in this situation."
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At the end of the interview, Ukashov said he was giving his "personal position."
Why It Matters
The U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a 30-day ceasefire plan during talks in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration is now taking that proposal to the Russians.
Trump wants to see a quick peace in Ukraine. He has criticized the vast destruction and loss of life, as well as the huge cost to American taxpayers of backing Ukraine's defense efforts.
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What to Know
Ushakov said he told U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that Russia's position on a temporary truce is that "this is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more."
The Kremlin aide, who advises on foreign affairs, said Putin may speak today on "more specific and substantive assessments" around the ceasefire proposal, Meduza reported.
Putin is set to meet with Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Thursday to discuss a ceasefire.
Earlier in the day, Russia's defense ministry said its forces had finally recaptured Sudzha, the largest town in the Kursk region, from Ukraine after several months.
What People Are Saying
Trump said Wednesday that "it's up to Russia now" as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire, adding that if they do "I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath" ended.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: "We must move toward peace, toward security guarantees, and we need to free our people. We are determined to work as quickly as possible with our partners. The key factor is our partners' ability to ensure Russia's readiness not to deceive but to genuinely end the war. Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped."
What Happens Next
We expect details to emerge from the Putin-Witkoff meeting about Russia's position, its willingness to agree to the ceasefire plan, or any conditions it has before it will do so.
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