Russia’s Putin is said to be ready to agree to Ukraine truce with conditions
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Russia will insist in particular on establishing the parameters of an eventual peacekeeping mission, said a source.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – Russia is willing to discuss a temporary truce in Ukraine provided there is progress towards a final peace settlement, according to people familiar with the matter in Moscow.
In the first signal of a positive response from President Vladimir Putin to his US counterpart Donald Trump’s call for a ceasefire, the offer was conveyed at February’s talks in Saudi Arabia between top Russian and American officials, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing internal policy.
In order to agree to a cessation of hostilities, there would have to be a clear understanding about the framework principles of the final peace accord, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Russia will insist in particular on establishing the parameters of an eventual peacekeeping mission, including agreement on which countries would take part, said another person familiar with the issue.
The details emerged as the US and Ukraine plan to meet in Saudi Arabia for their first direct talks since Mr Trump’s Oval Office bust-up with President Volodymyr Zelensky
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the meeting aims to reach “a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire”.
Speaking in the Oval Office later on March 7, Mr Trump said he is pushing for a deal to end the fighting and is confident that Mr Putin wants one.
“I think he’s going to be more generous than he has to be,” Mr Trump told reporters.
“I think we’re doing very well with Russia,” he said. “But right now they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine.”
He added that he was “finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine” than Russia.
His comments followed a social media post early on March 7 in which he threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs on Russia
Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, said in his daily video address: “Today the most intensive work with President Trump’s team ever has been going on all day at various levels.”
“The topic is clear: peace as soon as possible, security as reliable as possible,” he said. “Ukraine is very constructive.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
Russia has said it will not accept the presence of Nato troops on Ukrainian soil, rejecting a proposal by European countries to put together a “coalition of the willing” to help monitor any peace accord.
It does not object to countries such as China that have been neutral in the conflict deploying forces to Ukraine, the two people said.
Since his Jan 20 inauguration, Mr Trump has overturned US policy on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to try to bring a rapid end to the three-year-long war that is Europe’s worst conflict in 80 years.
He held phone talks with Mr Putin in February and the pair agreed to hold a summit, though no date has been set yet.
Mr Trump abandoned US support for Ukraine’s eventual entry into Nato, and his top officials said it was unrealistic to expect a return of all Ukrainian territory seized by Russia since 2014.
After the confrontation with Mr Zelensky at the White House, Mr Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and has suspended some intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, shocking European allies who say the US risks rewarding Russia’s aggression in starting the February 2022 invasion.
Mr Putin has repeatedly brushed aside Mr Trump’s bid for a quick halt to the war.
During his annual news conference in December, he said: “We don’t need a truce – we need peace: long term, durable, with guarantees for the Russian Federation and its citizens.”
Russia on March 6 rejected a Franco-British plan for a partial one-month truce covering air and maritime operations, including a halt to strikes targeting energy infrastructure. BLOOMBERG
