While everything pointed to the Russian side rejecting the US-Ukraine ceasefire plan – including comments made today (13) by top negotiator Yuri Ushakov – President Vladimir Putin has come out and said that he accepts the idea, provided some conditions are met.
Speaking to the press after a meeting with Belarusian President Lukashenko, Putin has shocked geopolitical analysts with his acceptance of the ceasefire plan.
The Telegraph reported:
“Vladimir Putin has agreed to a US plan for a short-term ceasefire, but with specific conditions.
The Russian president said: ‘We agree with the proposals for the ceasefire, but our position is based on the assumption the ceasefire will lead to a long-term peace’.”
Vladimir Putin is in favor of the US plan for a 30-day truce in Ukraine ‘but there are nuances’.
“The Russian president said plenty of questions remain over how the ceasefire will be implemented and who will control it.”
BREAKING:
Russian President Putin agrees to US President Trump’s ceasefire proposal with Ukraine, but demands “guarantees” first. pic.twitter.com/nfWyR82eis
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) March 13, 2025
Earlier, Putin’s top negotiator Yuri Ushalov had stated what was considered the obvious: Russia would not accept the plan.
Yury Ushakov stated:
• Moscow does not want a temporary truce; it is interested in a long-term settlement;
• The temporary ceasefire in Ukraine is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military;
• Steps that imitate peaceful actions in Ukraine are of no use to anyone;
• Russia seeks a long-term peace settlement in Ukraine that takes into account Moscow’s interests and concerns;
• The Americans understand that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is out of the question in the context of a peaceful settlement.”