Is Putin genuinely willing to pause his war machine for America’s sake? Vladimir Putin has given the nod to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but his approval comes with conditions that we’re yet to know if we can meet.
At a glance:
• Putin has agreed “in principle” to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine
• The ceasefire plan was proposed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during talks in Saudi Arabia
• Russia demands the ceasefire lead to “lasting peace” and address “root causes” of the conflict
• Trump has threatened financial consequences against Russia if it rejects the proposal
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warns of Russia’s history of breaking previous truces
Trump’s Plan for Peace Takes Shape
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled preliminary approval of a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, marking a potential breakthrough in the longstanding conflict. The proposal, spearheaded by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia, aims to pause hostilities and create space for humanitarian aid and further negotiations.
President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with financial consequences if it rejects the ceasefire plan, meaning Putin has more reason to finally say yes.
“I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia,” Trump stated.
Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Now, all eyes are on Putin and whether Trump can prevent the Russians from dragging their feet. https://t.co/HXVikYqci6
— Bloomberg (@business) March 13, 2025
The President dispatched Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for direct discussions about implementing the ceasefire agreement. American and Russian officials are now directly engaged in behind-the-scenes talks to finalize details, with a potential call between President Trump and Putin expected in the coming days.
A senior Kremlin official said that a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and accepted by Ukraine would help Kyiv by offering a break to its military. https://t.co/qwd5XvYUTf
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 13, 2025
Putin’s Conditional Acceptance
While agreeing to the ceasefire in principle, Putin has emphasized that certain conditions must be met before moving forward.
“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin stated, but qualified his support by noting the need for further discussion with American counterparts.
Russia’s demands include Ukraine withdrawing from regions claimed by Russia and guarantees against NATO membership for Ukraine.
“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Putin explained, signaling that any temporary pause must lead to a permanent resolution.
Russian officials have expressed concerns that Ukraine might use the ceasefire period to regroup and rearm its forces. Putin’s foreign policy adviser criticized the plan as merely providing a temporary respite for Ukrainian military operations, highlighting Russia’s skepticism about Ukraine’s intentions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has cautiously welcomed the ceasefire proposal while expressing concerns about Russia’s trustworthiness.
“The key is our partners’ ability to ensure that Russia is ready not to deceive, but to truly end the war,” Zelenskyy stated, referencing Russia’s history of breaking previous truces.
The Ukrainian government reportedly accepted the ceasefire proposal due to difficult battlefield conditions, particularly in the Kursk region. American officials believe Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region will soon be blocked by Russian forces, creating urgency for diplomatic solutions.
