Politics

Putin in ‘solidarity’ with Trump over ceasefire plans, says Kremlin spokesman

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Dmitry Peskov drew attention to a press conference held on Thursday by the Russian president at which he posed a number of specific questions about the proposed 30-day truce. Photo by Contributor/Getty Images
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Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has expressed solidarity with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, over plans for a ceasefire in Ukraine but has said much work still needs to be done.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson confirmed that Vladimir Putin had met Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Thursday evening and that the Russian leader had “expressed solidarity” with the American president’s plan for a ceasefire for the Russia-Ukraine war. 


In a brief call with reporters on Thursday, Dmitry Peskov said President Putin had received additional information from Witkoff and that Moscow shared the “cautious optimism” expressed by Michael Waltz, Trump’s top security advisor. 


Peskov drew attention to a press conference held on Thursday by the Russian president, at which he posed several specific questions about the proposed 30-day truce. 


They included who would monitor whether any violations had occurred and what would happen in the southwestern Russian oblast of Kursk, where Moscow’s forces are trying to repel Ukrainian troops following an incursion last summer. 


Putin also said any temporary ceasefire should be a first step toward a final settlement, suggesting Ukraine would use the cessation of hostilities as an opportunity to rearm. 


“All these issues need to be painstakingly studied by both sides,” he was quoted by the BBC as saying on Thursday, adding that the truce proposal is “good and we absolutely support it, but there are issues that we need to discuss.” 


Speaking to reporters on Friday, Peskov said direct talks between Putin and Trump could be arranged once the U.S. president has been briefed by Witkoff about his Thursday meeting with Putin. 


He said there is mutual “understanding” that such talks need to be held, though no clear timeframe has yet been established. 

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