Putin appears to reject Ukraine ceasefire proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide says he told Washington that a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States to pause the war in Ukraine would simply give Kyiv’s forces a much-needed battlefield respite.

Trump’s Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to meet Putin. Russian officials said earlier that US national security adviser Mike Waltz had provided details on the ceasefire idea on Wednesday and Russia was ready to discuss it.

Yuri Ushakov, a former ambassador to Washington who speaks for Putin on major foreign policy issues, tells state television that he outlined Russia’s position on the ceasefire to Waltz on Wednesday.

“I stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more,” Ushakov says. “Our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country and our well-known concerns. It seems to me that no one needs any steps that (merely) imitate peaceful actions in this situation.”

Asked if Russia is therefore rejecting the proposal, Ushakov says Putin will likely speak to the media later on Thursday and outline Russia’s position in more detail.

Separately, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says contacts with the US administration are becoming more active.

The two countries’ embassies and diplomats have intensified contacts, she adds.