Putin supports proposal to end Ukraine conflict

Reuters reported on March 13 that Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine but emphasized that it should be accompanied by conditions.

"We agree with the proposals to end hostilities," Putin said at a press conference at the Kremlin after meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on March 13.

However, the Russian leader stressed that any proposal must aim at lasting peace and address the root causes of the conflict. AFP reported that President Putin said there were still questions about how the ceasefire would be implemented.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 13

The Russian leader's move came as US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to meet with President Putin in Moscow on March 13 to discuss details of the ceasefire plan.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the meeting between Witkoff and Putin would be held behind closed doors. The US delegation met with the Ukrainian delegation on March 11 and proposed a 30-day ceasefire.

Before Mr Putin expressed support for the ceasefire plan, Mr Ushakov criticized that the US ceasefire proposal did not benefit Russia but only gave the Ukrainian army time to rest, emphasizing that Moscow wanted a long-term peace agreement.

On March 12 at the White House, Mr. Trump said that he hoped the Kremlin would agree to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine had expressed support for.

According to Reuters, Mr. Putin thanked Mr. Trump for his efforts to end the conflict. "The idea itself is right and we certainly support it. However, there are issues that we need to discuss. I think we also need to talk to our American colleagues. Perhaps I should call Mr. Trump and discuss it with him. Ultimately, we support the idea of ​​ending the conflict by peaceful means," Mr. Putin said.

AFP news agency reported that President Putin said there were still questions about how the ceasefire would be implemented.

At the press conference, Mr. Putin raised some current issues, such as how the parties will monitor the ceasefire on a frontline of about 2,000 km, who will verify when there are violations, and which side will be responsible.

"What will happen in these 30 days? Will Ukraine use it to mobilize more troops, provide more weapons or maybe even train newly mobilized soldiers?", TASS quoted Mr. Putin as saying.

According to the Russian President, the situation on the front lines of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is changing rapidly in favor of Russian forces. In addition, Mr. Putin mentioned the information that the Russian military announced that it had regained control of the town of Sudzha in Kursk province, a strategic location that Ukrainian forces controlled when they launched an attack on Kursk in August 2024.

"Based on the development of the situation, we will agree on the next steps to end the conflict and reach an agreement acceptable to all parties," Mr. Putin said.

After Mr. Putin's speech, US President Donald Trump responded at the White House that Mr. Putin "made a promising statement but it was not enough." Mr. Trump also expressed his willingness to talk with his Russian counterpart to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. "Hopefully Russia will do the right thing," Mr. Trump said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-putin-ung-ho-de-xuat-cham-dut-xung-dot-ukraine-18525031323120546.htm