US-Backed Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal Meets Skepticism From Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed reservations about a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine during a Thursday news conference, despite calling the US initiative “great and correct” in principle.

The comments came as American special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to brief Kremlin officials on the peace plan, with the Trump administration emphasizing that Russia now holds responsibility for advancing peace efforts.

“We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis,” Putin told reporters after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Putin raised multiple questions about the proposed arrangement, including verification methods, command structures, and the situation in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces currently occupy territory.

“What will we do with this area in the Kursk region – if we stop military actions for 30 days, does this mean that everyone who is there will leave without a fight?” Putin questioned.

Earlier this week, the United States and Ukraine held talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Kyiv accepted proposals for a 30-day US-backed ceasefire covering the entire frontline. President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that “the ball is now in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s court” regarding ending the conflict.

Russian presidential aide Yuriy Ushakov had earlier expressed skepticism about the proposal, suggesting it would merely provide “a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military.” However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that these remarks should not be interpreted as a rejection of the US initiative.

The Russian military separately announced Thursday it had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town previously occupied by Ukraine in the Kursk region – potentially eliminating Kyiv’s main territorial bargaining chip amid growing pressure to negotiate.

This developing situation follows Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and subsequent full-scale invasion in 2022, a conflict that has created global economic ripples affecting communities worldwide, including here in Los Angeles County.