Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday, March 13, that Russia agrees in principle with the U.S.-led ceasefire plan supported by Ukraine earlier this week. However, he emphasized that further negotiations were necessary and that any agreement must lead to “enduring peace.”
“The idea [of a ceasefire] itself is correct, and we certainly support it, but there are issues that need to be discussed. I think we need to talk to our American colleagues and partners—maybe call President Trump and discuss it together. But we support the very idea of ending this conflict through peaceful means,” Putin said, according to an NBC translation.
He further stressed that any deal must ensure long-term peace and address the root causes of the crisis.
“We are in favor of it, but there are nuances,” he added when asked about the 30-day ceasefire deal brokered by the White House. Kyiv endorsed the plan on Tuesday, contingent on Moscow’s agreement.
Putin also raised concerns about whether the 30-day period would be used to “supply weapons” or “train newly mobilized units” and questioned how potential ceasefire violations would be monitored.
On Thursday, a U.S. delegation led by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow for ceasefire discussions. Earlier comments from Russian officials suggested the country would not immediately sign the U.S.-led agreement. Yuri Ushakov, a Russian presidential aide, did not confirm or deny Russia’s participation but suggested that a truce might serve as “a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more.”
The draft agreement proposes a halt to all Russian and Ukrainian military activities, potentially extending beyond the initial 30-day term if mutually agreed upon. It also calls for “the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to Russia.” Following Ukraine’s acceptance of the deal, the U.S. immediately resumed intelligence-sharing and military aid to the country.
Analysts note that while Russia has suffered heavy battlefield losses, it continues to make slow but steady advances in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s worsening relationship with the U.S. has further complicated the situation.
