Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has agreed to a ceasefire proposal in his speech on Thursday night (March 13, 2025). He emphasized that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace rather than a temporary solution.
1. Putin Supports Ceasefire, But Under Certain Conditions
“We accept the proposal to halt hostilities, but we believe the ceasefire must be structured in a way that ensures long-term peace and addresses the root causes of this crisis,” Putin stated, as reported by VoA on Saturday (March 15, 2025).
Previously, a top Russian foreign policy advisor rejected a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The advisor argued that such a proposal would only serve as a temporary pause, allowing the Ukrainian military to regroup and prepare for further combat.
In an interview with Russian state television and the RIA Novosti news agency, Putin’s advisor and former Ambassador to the U.S., Yuri Ushakov, stressed that Russia’s main objective is a long-term peaceful resolution.
“Our goal is a lasting peaceful settlement that considers our legitimate interests and well-known concerns,” he stated.
Ushakov also warned against symbolic peace efforts that do not address the real issues at hand. His comments coincided with the arrival of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for discussions with Russian officials regarding the U.S. ceasefire proposal.
He confirmed that he had regular contact with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Walz and said both sides had agreed to keep their discussions confidential. Ushakov also hinted that the U.S. might consider Russia’s stance as negotiations progress. In an interview with RIA Novosti, he noted that the U.S. acknowledges that Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely in the near future.
Russia’s foreign policy advisor added that Putin would hold a press conference on Thursday evening to elaborate on Russia’s position regarding the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials met with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week to discuss the ceasefire proposal.
2. Ukraine Welcomes U.S. Ceasefire Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the U.S. initiative, stating on Wednesday that Ukraine is "ready for a 30-day ceasefire as proposed by the American side."
Zelenskyy emphasized that the pause in fighting could be used to develop a broader peace agreement to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In parallel developments, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that its forces had regained control of Sudzha, a major city in the Kursk region of western Russia, after intense fighting against Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian forces had captured Sudzha in a surprise offensive in August last year, pushing into the Kursk border region. Since then, they had been struggling to maintain control of the city. However, after fierce battles, Russian forces have now reclaimed the area.