Photo courtesy of TASS
MOSCOW, 13 March (BelTA) – Russia accepts proposals to end hostilities in Ukraine, but this process should lead to a lasting peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow following talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.
Journalists asked the Russian president whether, in his view, Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire, whether the USA provided any information to Russia on this matter and how Russia would respond to it.
First of all, Vladimir Putin thanked US President Donald Trump for investing so much time and effort in the Ukraine peace process. “We all have a lot of issues to deal with domestically. But many leaders – China's president, the prime minister of India, and the presidents of Brazil and South Africa - are working on this issue and devoting a lot of time to it. We are grateful to all of them, because this work has a noble mission – to end the hostilities and human losses,” the Russian head of state said.
“Second. We are on board with proposals to end the hostilities, but this should lead to a sustainable peace and eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” Vladimir Putin said.
Speaking about Ukraine's readiness to cease the hostilities, he recalled the USA-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia. Some might get an impression that Ukraine made a decision under American pressure. “In fact, I strongly believe that the Ukrainians should have asked the Americans for this in the most insistent way given the situation on the ground,” the Russian president noted. He provided some details on how the situation is unfolding.
A day before, Vladimir Putin visited Kursk Oblast and debriefed the chief of the General Staff and the command of the North group on the situation in the border area and in that part of Kursk Oblast that was captured by the Ukrainian forces. “The situation there is totally under our control. The group that invaded our territory is isolated. We have cut them off and established complete fire control. Ukraine has lost access to their troops inside this area. A week or two ago Ukrainian troops tried to leave the area in large groups, but now this is impossible. They are trying to break through in very small groupings of 2-3 people, because everything is under our complete fire control. The weaponry has been completely abandoned, it is impossible to take it out. It will remain there, this is for sure. If we encircle them physically in the coming days, no one will be able to get out, there will be only two ways: to surrender or die,” the Russian president explained. In these conditions, in his opinion, it would be very good for the Ukrainian side to have a ceasefire for at least 30 days.
“And we are in favor of it. But there are nuances,” he noted.
In particular, this concerns the territory in Kursk Oblast that was seized by the Ukrainians. “If we stop fighting for 30 days, what does that mean? That everyone who is there will be able to leave unscathed. Should we let them out after they have committed so many crimes against civilians? Or will the Ukrainian leadership order them to lay down their arms and surrender? How will that be?” Vladimir Putin asked. “How will other issues be resolved along the contact line, which is almost 2,000 km long. As you know, Russian troops are advancing along nearly the entire contact line, and we are poised to cut off fairly large units,” Vladimir Putin said.
One of the key questions that the president raised was how Ukraine would use this 30-day ceasefire period. “Will Ukraine use it to continue forced mobilization? To restock weapons? To train mobilized units?” he said naming possible scenarios. But even if none of this happens, the question still arises about how the issues of control and verification will be resolved, what guarantees Russia will get that nothing like this will happen in the future. Another question: who will give orders to cease hostilities on the Ukrainian side and will they be carried out?
“Answers to these questions require painstaking work on both sides,” the Russian head of state remarked.
He emphasized that he upholds the idea of a ceasefire, because he views it as the right move. “But there are issues that should be settled. I think that we also need to discuss it with our American counterparts and partners. Maybe call President Trump and discuss it with him. Anyway, we support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means,” Vladimir Putin concluded.
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