Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he didn’t support an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, calling for more discussion on a permanent end to the war as Moscow’s army made rapid gains toward expelling Kyiv’s forces from its Kursk region.
Putin said any pause in fighting at this point would be in Ukraine’s interest because Russia is gaining on the battlefield, and a host of issues would need to be resolved before a cease-fire could be reached.
“The idea itself is good, and we of course support it, but there are questions we have to discuss,” Putin said, referring to a proposed 30-day cease-fire in the war, adding that Russia sought a lasting peace that would need to eliminate the “root causes” of the conflict.
The comments were the first official response from Moscow after Ukraine agreed this week to a U.S.-backed proposal for a pause in the war, now in its fourth year. Putin spoke as President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was due in Moscow to discuss the cease-fire proposal, according to two U.S. officials.
Trump said Thursday that he planned to speak with Putin soon and he was pressing for a speedy end to the conflict.
“He put out a very promising statement, but it wasn’t complete,” Trump said of Putin’s comments.
“I’d love to meet with him and talk to him, but we have to get it over with fast,” Trump said, sitting next to NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte. Asked about the continuing talks with Russia, Trump said they were “very serious” and added, “Hopefully they’ll do the right thing.”