Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a 30-day temporary ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, marking a significant shift in Moscow’s stance after initial reluctance.
At a press conference on Thursday (13 March), Putin stated, "I support this proposal."
However, he underscored that any truce must be intrinsically linked to addressing the fundamental causes of the war, adding that further details of the arrangement need to be examined.
The ceasefire proposal was initiated by the United States following discussions with Ukraine in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Initially hesitant, Kyiv ultimately consented to the truce on Wednesday, drawing global attention to Russia’s response.
Addressing journalists on the matter, Putin reiterated, "We are willing to halt hostilities, but we must proceed in a manner that transforms this pause into a sustainable peace and eradicates the root causes of this conflict." He also expressed interest in engaging in further discussions with the United States on the subject.
Previously, Moscow had signalled its reluctance to accept a temporary ceasefire.
Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy advisor to the Russian president, had stated that the proposed 30-day truce would primarily benefit Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, providing them with a strategic advantage. Consequently, Russia was initially unwilling to entertain such an arrangement.
