Putin Rejects Immediate Ceasefire in Ukraine, Signals Conditional Support Amid Ongoing Conflict

Moscow, March 13, 2025 – Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed qualified support for a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but effectively dashed hopes for an immediate truce by attaching a litany of conditions and unresolved questions. Speaking at a Kremlin press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin emphasized that any halt in hostilities must address the “root causes” of the conflict—a stance Kyiv and its Western allies interpret as a stalling tactic to solidify Russia’s battlefield gains.

A War of Attrition and Geopolitical Stakes

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has claimed countless lives, displaced millions, and razed entire towns, marking the most severe Moscow-West confrontation in decades. The U.S., under President Donald Trump, has pushed a 30-day ceasefire plan, which Ukraine endorsed during talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11. The proposal prompted the U.S. to resume weapons and intelligence support to Kyiv, reversing a brief suspension after a contentious Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in February. Trump, branding himself a peacemaker, hailed Putin’s remarks as “very promising” and confirmed his envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in Moscow pressing the case.

Yet Putin’s response—while nodding to the ceasefire’s “correct” intent—piled on caveats that signal reluctance. “We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,” he said, “but this cessation should lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis.” He questioned how a truce would be enforced, who would oversee it, and whether Ukraine might exploit it to rearm, reflecting Moscow’s distrust of Kyiv’s intentions.

Kursk Offensive Looms Large

Putin’s focus zeroed in on Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a bold incursion in August 2024 to disrupt Moscow’s eastern campaign and secure leverage. Recent Russian counteroffensives have slashed Ukraine’s hold from 1,300 square kilometers to under 200, per Russian military claims. Visiting a Kursk command post on March 12 in rare camouflage attire, Putin underscored the region’s symbolic weight. “If we stop for 30 days, what does that mean?” he asked. “Will they leave without a fight after committing crimes against civilians, or will Kyiv order us to disarm? It’s not clear.”

This rhetoric aligns with Ukraine’s fears—and those of analysts on X—that Putin seeks to lock in territorial gains, notably Crimea and four eastern regions annexed in 2022, while thwarting Kyiv’s NATO aspirations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a March 12 address, dismissed Putin’s stance as “manipulative,” arguing it prolongs the war under the guise of negotiation.

Conditions and Broader Demands

Beyond Kursk, Putin hinted at a broader agenda. Two sources cited by Reuters report Russia has submitted a list of demands to the U.S., aiming to end the war and reset ties with Washington. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov reiterated long-standing conditions—Ukraine’s withdrawal from claimed territories, a NATO membership renunciation, and military limits—calling the U.S. plan “nothing” without them. Putin also floated energy cooperation, suggesting gas flows to Europe could resume if the U.S. aligns, a nod to Russia’s lost dominance as Europe’s supplier since 2022 sanctions.

On the economic front, Putin adopted a conciliatory tone toward Western firms, saying, “To those who want to return, we say welcome,” though he noted domestic producers have filled the void. This olive branch contrasts with his portrayal of the war as a fight against a “decadent West” encroaching on Russia’s sphere since 1989.

Trump’s Gambit and NATO’s unease

Trump, who may soon speak with Putin directly, faces a delicate balancing act. His administration views the ceasefire as a stepping stone to a grand bargain—potentially involving China, oil markets, and Middle Eastern stability—yet European allies worry he might pivot from NATO commitments. Posts on X speculate Trump’s Greenland annexation talk (March 13 White House meeting with NATO’s Mark Rutte) reflects this shift, amplifying fears of a U.S.-Russia deal at Europe’s expense.

For now, Putin’s conditional nod keeps the ceasefire in limbo. With Russian forces advancing—albeit slowly—across a 1,000-kilometer front, Moscow holds leverage it’s loath to cede without guarantees. As Witkoff negotiates in Moscow, the world watches whether Trump’s personal rapport with Putin, touted since 2016, can bridge the gap—or if Putin’s stalling presages a longer, bloodier stalemate.