MOSCOW, March 14(Alliance News): Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but raised concerns over its implementation, calling for further discussions with the United States.
Speaking about the plan, which Ukraine agreed to during talks with Washington, Putin stated he was “for” the proposal but highlighted “nuances” and “serious questions” about how it would be enforced. He suggested a possible phone call with US President Donald Trump to clarify the details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin’s response as manipulative, accusing him of preparing to reject the ceasefire while avoiding a direct refusal to Trump. The US has urged Russia to accept the ceasefire unconditionally, but Putin argued that it would primarily benefit Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are advancing.
Trump called Putin’s remarks “promising but not complete,” adding that detailed discussions had already taken place and that Russia’s response would be crucial. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow to negotiate the plan, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov indicating that Putin would meet him at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed further territorial gains, announcing the capture of the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. Moscow reiterated that it would not accept foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine, rejecting Kyiv’s request for European military contingents to ensure post-war security.
As Ukraine ordered evacuations in its Sumy region due to intensified Russian shelling, Washington resumed intelligence-sharing and security support for Kyiv ahead of negotiations.
