Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for the idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine but has stated that details need to be sorted out.
Speaking with reporters at a news conference in the Kremlin following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, Putin said, “We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities.”
“But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis.”
Trump on Wednesday at the White House said he hoped Russia would agree to the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine said it would support, to end what Donald Trump called the “bloodbath.”
President Putin expressed his gratitude to President Trump for his efforts to end the war.
“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Vladimir Putin said. “But there are issues that we need to discuss. And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well.”
Putin added he might call Trump to discuss the issue. “We support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means.”