Russia-Ukraine ceasefire update: Putin in ‘support’ of agreement, Trump says situation now ‘promising’

Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky have all weighed in on a US-brokered Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement, with a war of words fuelling fires on instability.

First, Mr Putin revealed he was “in favour” of the agreement. However, added any deal must bring “enduring peace” and “remove the root cause of the crisis”.

Mr Trump was quick to share his thoughts on Russia’s comments, driving Mr Putin’s stance on a ceasefire as “promising but incomplete”.

Mr Zelensky, however, claimed Mr Putin was being “manipulative”, alleging Russia was “preparing a rejection,” and preconditions would make an agreement “impossible”.

Vladimir Putin’s first comments on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement

Speaking from Moscow alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Mr Putin said any ceasefire agreement must “remove the root cause” of the crisis, an issue that the two nations have been unable to resolve since an escalation in conflict back in 2014.

“We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire, to proceed hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace and should remove the root causes of this crisis,” Mr Putin said.

“We are in favour of it, but there are nuances.

“Firstly what are we going to do about this incursion in the Kursk region? If we seized hostilities for 30 days, what would that mean?

Would that mean that everyone there should leave? Should we release them (Ukrainians) after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians there or will the Ukrainian leadership command them to surrender?

“Who will give orders to cease hostilities, and what will these orders be worth?” he asked.

Mr Putin voiced his concern over who would police “violations of the possible ceasefire agreement”.

“All these issues need to be painstakingly studied by both sides,” Mr Putin said.

Despite his concerns, and in a promising sign of Russia’s willingness to work with Mr Trump on a resolution, Mr Putin said he believed the ceasefire proposal was “good” adding: “We absolutely support it but there are issues that we need to discuss.”

“We need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners,” he said.

“The very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means, we support that.”

Mr Lukashenko, arguably Mr Putin’s closest ally, told the Russian president there were still “so many fences and rubbish in all of this.

“I simply advise you, don’t fall for Donald’s (Mr Trump’s) tricks,” Mr Lukashenko said.

Donald Trump reacts to Vladimir Putin’s ceasefire response

Speaking from the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Mr Trump described Mr Putin’s stance on a ceasefire as “promising but incomplete”.

“It was a very promising statement because other people are saying different things,” he said from the Oval Office.

“He put out a very promising statement, but it was not complete.”

Mr Trump said he would “love to meet with” Mr Putin to discuss the ceasefire agreement, something the Russian President said was “maybe” a good idea.

“I’d love to meet with him or talk to him, but we have to get it over with fast,” Mr Trump said.

“You know, every day people are being killed.

“I hope Russia’s going to make the deal.

“I think once that deal happens, you’re never gonna be in a process — I don’t think they’re going back to shooting again,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone wants to go back.

“They’ve been doing this for a long time, and it’s vicious and violent.”

Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin ‘manipulative’, preparing for ‘rejection

In a video address on Thursday, Mr Zelensky responded to Mr Putin’s comments, calling them “predictable”.

“What we’ve heard from Russia are Putin’s very predictable and very manipulative words,” the Ukrainian president said.

“In practice, he’s preparing a rejection.

“Of course, Putin is afraid to tell Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to continue killing Ukrainians.

Mr Zelensky suggested that Mr Putin would make ceasefire negotiations “impossible”.

“That’s why Moscow surrounds the ceasefire idea with preconditions that won’t make anything possible, or make it impossible for longer.”

“It’s only Russia that will delay things and be unconstructive.”

Mr Zelensky asked Mr Trump to put more pressure on Mr Putin as ceasefire talks continue.