Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed President Trump’s proposed 30-day cease-fire plan for Ukraine on Thursday, insisting that the West must stop supplying weapons to Kyiv before any agreement could be considered by the Kremlin.
Although he expressed a willingness to “halt military actions,” Putin made it clear that Russia would only entertain the Trump proposal if significant alterations were made.
“We agree with proposals to cease hostilities [in Ukraine], but this cessation must lead to a long-term peace and eliminate the root cause of the initial crisis,” he stated, though he did not specify what he believed the “cause” to be.
Additionally, Putin demanded assurances that Ukraine would be barred from mobilizing troops, conducting military training, or receiving any form of military aid during the cease-fire period. However, he did not suggest that Russia would adhere to similar restrictions.
The statement came as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to engage in cease-fire discussions with Russian officials. Just hours earlier, Putin’s top advisors had dismissed Trump’s proposal as ineffective and of no real benefit to anyone involved.
“These kinds of steps, which only mimic peace efforts, are useless to everyone,” said Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the U.S. and current Kremlin adviser, in an interview with Russian state television.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans celebrated Trump’s diplomatic achievement on Tuesday, emphasizing that securing a cease-fire for Ukraine was a strategic goal aligned with American interests.
“Peace for Ukraine is in our nation’s best interest, which is why President Trump has made it one of his administration’s top priorities,” stated Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) on X following Ukraine’s acceptance of the deal.
Asked whether Moscow would accept the same agreement already endorsed by Ukraine, Ushakov was dismissive, arguing that the proposal offered no advantages to Russia.
“It only gives the Ukrainians the opportunity to regroup, gain strength and to continue (defending their country),” Ushakov commented on state television.
He reiterated this stance in a conversation with national security adviser Mike Waltz, following the latter’s meeting with Ukrainian leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
“I outlined our position that this (cease-fire) is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more,” Ushakov explained.
Despite Russia’s rejection, some Ukrainian voices opposing the Trump-brokered cease-fire pointed out that Moscow would also benefit from a temporary halt in fighting, allowing it to reinforce its own military capabilities.
Witkoff’s arrival in Moscow marked the next stage in negotiations, with analysts suggesting that this was an opportunity for Russia to demonstrate a genuine interest in peace, much as Ukraine had in Jeddah.
Ukraine’s acceptance of Trump’s terms received a mixed reception among the country’s citizens, but insiders indicated that it was at least partially a gesture of goodwill to signal Ukraine’s willingness to end the conflict.
Trump himself remarked on Wednesday that the decision now rested with Moscow, stating that the cease-fire could pave the way for peace if Russia was prepared to commit to it.
“(Tuesday’s) meeting in Jeddah puts the ball back in Russia’s court and places the onus on Washington to persuade Moscow to accept and implement the cease-fire,” said John Hardie, director of the Russia Program at the Foundation for Defending Democracies.
“… If Moscow refuses to play ball, President Trump should make good on his threat to ramp up economic pressure on Russia. This should include tightening sanctions on Russia’s oil revenue.”
While Ushakov contended that Kyiv stood to gain from the cease-fire, Ukrainian troops and military officials interviewed by The Post last week expressed no interest in pausing their fight, dismissing it as an option from a strategic standpoint.
“Why would we stop fighting? We can’t. This is our home,” a Ukrainian soldier stationed in Sumy Oblast near the Russian border told The NY Post.
Two weeks before Kyiv accepted Trump’s cease-fire proposal, Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko made it clear at a forum attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his cabinet that Russia, not Ukraine, was in need of a temporary truce.
“Russia needs a pause to restore its economy, regroup its forces, and launch a new aggression against Ukraine,” Ivashchenko warned.
Ultimately, Ukraine’s agreement to the Trump administration’s proposal was largely a diplomatic maneuver, signaling a willingness for peace while maintaining the capacity and resolve to continue fighting should Russia force its hand, according to Ukrainian officials and military analysts.
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), a strong critic of Putin, commended Trump for securing the cease-fire, arguing that Russia’s leader could not claim to be a victim.
“Woke war criminal Putin doesn’t get to play the victim,” Wilson declared.
“President Trump graciously offered Putin a way out of this insanity. Problem is Putin does not want peace, he wants Ukraine,” he added.
{Matzav.com}
