Russia agrees with Ukraine ceasefire but calls for ‘enduring peace’

Vladimir Putin said Russia agrees with a ceasefire in Ukraine but insists it must lead to "enduring peace”.

During a media briefing, Putin thanked US President Donald Trump for his efforts to achieve a settlement in Ukraine. "We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities, but it should lead to enduring peace and remove underlying causes of this crisis," he said.

Putin questioned Ukraine’s commitment to a ceasefire and suggested Kyiv should have actively pursued negotiations with the US earlier.

He also raised concerns over the enforcement of a potential ceasefire. "Who will give orders to cease hostilities, and what will these orders be worth?"

He also asked who will decide where a violation would have occurred along the 2,000 km border between Russia and Ukraine.

Putin confirmed his support for a 30-day ceasefire but stressed there are "nuances" to be discussed. "If we ceased hostilities... what would that mean?" he asked, pointing out that Ukrainian forces had lost control of Kursk and abandoned their equipment. He reiterated that "the situation is fully under our control".

The Russian president said he is willing to engage in further discussions with the US, suggesting that negotiations with "American colleagues and partners" could be necessary. He even mentioned the possibility of a phone call with Trump to further the peace efforts. "The very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means, we support that," he said.

Meanwhile, Russia's military continues to consolidate its gains in the Kursk region. Putin praised Russian service members for their role in retaking Sudzha and surrounding settlements from Ukrainian forces.

"Yesterday in his report, the northern group commander told me: 'Tomorrow Sudzha will be ours.' And that's what happened," Putin said.