Egypt Daily News – The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a private message to his American counterpart, Donald Trump, regarding a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, noting a “cautious optimism” about reaching an agreement despite ongoing disagreements on key issues.
These statements came after a lengthy meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Stephen Witkoff in Moscow, where they discussed Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire—a plan that Kyiv had already approved during negotiations held in Saudi Arabia on March 11.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there are “reasons for cautious optimism,” emphasizing that Putin’s remarks from yesterday were crucial. “You heard the important statement made by President Putin yesterday, in which he expressed support for President Trump’s stance on a settlement, but at the same time, he raised certain questions that require joint answers,” Peskov said.
He added that Putin conveyed “signals” to Trump via Witkoff regarding Russia’s position on the ceasefire and, in return, received information about how the U.S. administration views the situation in Ukraine.
Moscow’s Conditions
While Putin expressed support for de-escalation, he insisted that several issues must be addressed before implementing any agreement. These include:
- The status of Ukrainian forces that carried out military operations in the Kursk region of Russia.
- Mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire and ensure compliance by both sides.
- Kyiv’s actions during the truce and whether it would use the period to rearm or prepare for new attacks.
On his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow might attempt to obstruct the ceasefire by imposing unrealistic conditions, arguing that Russia is preparing to reject the agreement indirectly. In a press statement, Zelensky said, “Putin wants to impose preconditions that make implementing the ceasefire impossible, while he prepares to continue his attack on Ukraine.”
New U.S. Sanctions
Amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, the United States announced new sanctions against Moscow, including a ban on several major Russian banks and energy companies from accessing U.S. payment systems. This move aims to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.
U.S. intelligence sources indicated that Putin still aspires to achieve full control over Ukraine, noting that the Kremlin views Trump as an easily manipulated figure, which has raised concerns among security officials in Washington.
Despite this, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin has agreed to hold a direct call with Trump in the future to discuss settlement details. However, there has been no official comment from the White House regarding the timing of the potential conversation.
