Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, World News, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, US News
President Vladimir Putin has spoken out about the Ukrainian-US plan for peace, saying he would 'support' a 30-day ceasefire in theory.
From the Kremlin today (March 13), Putin said he is 'in favor' of the ceasefire proposal with Ukraine, more than three years since the war broke out, but stressed there are some details that need to be ironed out.
On Tuesday (March 11), the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the country is ready to 'restore peace' with Russia.
Advert
The joint US-Ukraine statement came as officials negotiated for eight hours at a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where they agreed on an 'immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire', subject to Russian approval.
Now, Putin has addressed whether or not Moscow will indeed agree to such a pause which US President Donald Trump hopes will result in peace.
"We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire to cease hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace, and should remove the root causes of this crisis," Putin stated, as per The Guardian.
"There are issues we need to discuss," he continued, such as what a truce would look like and if an almost month-long pause would present a Ukrainian advantage.
Putin asked: "So what would happen during those 30 days?
"Would that allow Ukraine to continue a forced mobilization, a supply of arms to Ukraine, so that the newly mobilized units can be trained, or will that not be done?"
Putin further asked for clarification on who would police the armistice and 'who will decide where there’s been a violation of the possible ceasefire agreement'.
He asked: "Who will be blamed for violating the ceasefire?"
However cautious, Putin said he would be keen to discuss the matter on the phone with President Trump.
He concluded: "So the idea is good, and we absolutely support it, but there are issues we need to discuss and I think we need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners, maybe a phone call with President Trump, but the very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means we support that."
Prior to stating he could be persuaded into peace talks, Putin reflected on his visit to Kursk yesterday (March 12), where he said the 'situation is fully under control' and that surrounded Ukrainian troops will either have to 'surrender or die'.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko chimed in at the conference too, saying Ukraine and Europe 'will be done for' if Russia agrees to the US' terms.
He added: "The negotiating process between America and Russia holds Europe’s fate in their hands, even though it is behaving in a shortsighted manner in the media, at least."
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.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 12, 2025
The key factor is our partners’ ability to ensure Russia’s readiness not to deceive but to genuinely end the war. Because… pic.twitter.com/VUkrTS1VyF
The comments come as Washington vowed to lift the pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv as part of the ceasefire deal while promising to press Russia that its 'reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.'
Zelenskyy also clarified on Twitter this week that a ceasefire would look like 'silence' across the skies and sea, with no more missiles, drones or bombs in the Black Sea or 'along the entire front line'.
However, the Ukrainian leader issued a stern warning to its allies not to be 'fooled' by Putin.
Zelenskyy said: "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."
