Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said he was “in favour” of the 30-day ceasefire plan with Ukraine proposed by the US. However, he said “There are nuances” adding any ceasefire must lead to “long-term peace.”
Putin was addressing a press conference in Moscow together with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko when he was specifically asked about the ceasefire.
He began his response by thanking Trump for dedicating his attention to this issue.
“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 said, reported The Guardian.
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Putin Raises More Questions
Putin, however, caveated and posed several questions on the broader issues with the ceasefire. He claimed that the ceasefire could give Ukraine a chance to rearm and regain momentum.
“How will other aspects be dealt with along the 2000-kilometer contact line? As you know, the Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector of the contact line, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large units. So what would happen during those 30 days?” he questioned.
He also asked about who would police the truce.
“Who will give orders to cease hostilities? And what will these orders be worth, along 2000 kilometres? Who will decide where there’s been a violation of the possible ceasefire agreement along all along the 2000-kilometer line, and who will be blamed? Who will be blamed for violating the ceasefire?” he questioned again.
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“All these issues need to be carefully, painstakingly studied by both sides,” Putin asserted.
The Russian President said “the idea is good” and “we absolutely support it”, but he also said there were issues that need to be discussed.
” 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,” Putin remarked.
