Ceasefire with Ukraine must lead to ‘long-term peace’, says Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Moscow supports the United States-brokered ceasefire proposal for Ukraine in principle, but emphasised “we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis,” Reuters reported.

“We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities," Putin said. “The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it.”

The Russian president reiterated the Kremlin's earlier assertions that the Ukrainian government is a key part of the underlying issue, CNN reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that Kyiv was ready for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. He said in a video statement that the talks had been “good and constructive”.

The Ukrainian president said that his representatives had shared a three-point proposal with the US aimed at stopping missile strikes, bombs and long-range drone attacks, “real confidence-building measures” that “primarily means the release of prisoners of war and detainees” and the return of Ukrainian children allegedly forcibly transferred to Russia.

“During today’s talks, the US side proposed taking an even bigger first step – a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line,” Zelenskyy said.

He added: “Ukraine is ready...

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