Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia agrees in principle with the US proposal for a ceasefire, but conditions need to be worked out, stressing that this should pave the way for a lasting peace.
“We agree with the proposals to stop the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that a ceasefire should lead to a lasting peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said.
Putin noted that Ukrainian troops are surrounded in their last stronghold in the Russian border region of Kursk and that it is necessary to determine before a ceasefire whether they will lay down their arms and surrender.
He also stressed that it is necessary to develop a mechanism to control possible ceasefire violations. Another question, he added, is whether Ukraine will use the 30-day ceasefire to continue mobilizing and rearming.
