Putin says he agrees in principle with U.S. proposal for 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine

Russian President Putin supports U.S. ceasefire proposal for Ukraine, emphasizing terms must lead to lasting peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday (March 13, 2025) that he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasized that it should pave the way to lasting peace.

“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin told a news conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”

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He noted that Ukrainian troops are encircled in their last foothold in Russia’s Kursk region, and it’s necessary to determine before a ceasefire whether they will lay down weapons and surrender.

He also noted the need to develop a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce. Another issue, he said, is whether Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to continue mobilization and rearmament.

“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Mr. Putin said.

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