Russia ‘in favour’ of 30-day cease-fire, but ‘there are nuances’: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed concerns about Washington’s proposal for a 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine, but signaled Moscow’s willingness to discuss the plan with U.S. President Donald Trump.

While speaking at a press conference, Putin acknowledged his support for the cease-fire, which Ukraine had agreed to earlier in talks with the U.S., but emphasized there were “nuances” and “serious questions” regarding its implementation.

“I think we need to talk to our American colleagues… Maybe have a phone call with President Trump and discuss this with him,” Putin told reporters.

The United States, pushing for an unconditional cease-fire, has called on Russia to agree to halt hostilities. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored this, saying, “That’s what we want to know — if they’re prepared to do it unconditionally.”

Trump says Putin statement ‘promising’ but ‘not complete’

Meanwhile, Trump described Putin’s comments as “promising” but noted that “a lot of details of a final agreement have actually been discussed,” adding, “Now we’re going to see if Russia is there, and if not, it will be a very disappointing moment for the world.”

The Russian president stated that further decisions would depend on the situation on the ground, where Russian forces are reportedly making rapid advances.

After visiting a military headquarters in the Kursk region, Putin praised the progress of Russian troops, claiming they were “advancing in practically all areas” of the front line. He indicated that future steps toward ending the conflict would be based on these battlefield developments.

Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow to engage in discussions about the cease-fire proposal. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Witkoff would meet with Putin on Thursday evening.

As Russia continues its advances, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the lack of an official response from Moscow, accusing Russia of seeking to “prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible.”