This week, Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire with Russia. In response, Russia agreed to a ceasefire under certain conditions. However, now Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling, claiming that he sent “additional signals” regarding the ceasefire to President Donald Trump on Friday.
Putin said on Thursday he is ready to accept the proposal in principle, but he demanded some modifications that Ukraine is unlikely to accept.
[Kremlin spokesman Dmitry] Peskov said Putin’s messages were passed along to Trump by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Moscow on Thursday for a meeting with Putin. Among Witkoff’s objectives is setting up a phone call between Trump and Putin, something Peskov said could happen after Witkoff brings Putin’s messages back to Washington.
“Additional information was provided to the Russian side. Through Witkoff, Putin also passed information and additional signals to Trump,” Peskov said at a press conference on Friday, shortly after Witkoff left Moscow.
Peskov stated that “there are reasons to feel this cautious optimism” about the proposal, however there is “a great deal” of work that needs to be done. The spokesman added that “both sides understand” a direct conversation between Trump and Putin is necessary, as the last known direct conversation was a month ago,
Putin and Trump blasted some more signals at each other on Friday. Trump wrote a post on his preferred social media platform, Truth Social, in which he praised Witkoff’s “very good and productive discussions” with Putin on Thursday.
“There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,” Trump wrote on Thursday. “BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION.”
“I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!” he added.
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