MYKOLAIV, Ukraine — A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia views the temporary ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine as merely an opportunity for Kyiv’s forces to regroup. The United States is currently awaiting Moscow’s response to the 30-day ceasefire plan put forward by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian officials during meetings in Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump has indicated that sanctions could be imposed on Russia if they decline the proposal.
In a statement to Russian state media, Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov dismissed the ceasefire plan as a brief pause for the Ukrainian military, emphasizing Russia’s commitment to a long-term peaceful resolution that respects the country’s interests. Putin, during a visit to the Kursk region, voiced skepticism towards actions that simulate peace efforts, reiterating his stance in a call with U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz.
Putin has shown no willingness to compromise on his demands for ending the conflict, insisting on Ukraine’s withdrawal from regions under Russian control, a pledge to refrain from NATO membership, and protection of Russian cultural and linguistic heritage within Ukraine. The Russian leader urged his soldiers to swiftly achieve victory while visiting the frontlines in the region where Ukrainian forces hold territory.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed confidence in the liberation of the Kursk region, where Russian troops have made gains, and emphasized Putin’s goal of establishing a security zone along the border. Despite recent developments, Putin made no mention of the ceasefire proposed by Rubio and Ukrainian officials.
Upcoming discussions between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko are anticipated later on Thursday. Meanwhile, Rubio is expected to address the conflict during the G-7 summit in Quebec, Canada, though tensions persist within the alliance. Efforts to navigate the crisis continue, with American and Russian officials engaging in dialogue while Trump considers potential sanctions against Russia to push for peace.
The Kremlin has openly hinted that Ukraine may need to accept many of Putin’s demands. The White House confirmed that Witkoff would be visiting Russia this week, although the exact timing was not disclosed. According to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency, Witkoff’s plane entered Russian airspace on Thursday morning, as reported by the Flightradar tracking website. Kremlin spokesperson Peskov informed reporters, “Indeed, the negotiators are en route, and meetings are planned.” Steve Witkoff, who had spoken to the media outside the White House the previous week, cautioned, “Let’s not jump ahead. We will provide details later.”
The suggestion of an interim 30-day ceasefire from talks in Saudi Arabia has been positively received by European leaders, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a warning in his address on Wednesday about Russia’s track record of violating truces. Ukrainian officials and citizens expressed a desire for peace, but only with security guarantees to prevent future attacks from the Kremlin. Vitaliy Kim, governor of Mykolaiv oblast, stated, “I believe 99% of Ukrainians want the conflict to end fairly. We seek assurances that it will not resurface in a few years.”
In the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, some residents criticized what they perceived as Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine into a precarious and unfavorable settlement. Referring to Trump’s actions as “childish tactics,” Yuriy, a 46-year-old construction worker, expressed his discontent while walking with his newborn baby near the city’s memorial for fallen soldiers. He remarked, “My daughter is more composed in her one month of life than Trump has been in his 70-plus years. She at least does her business in diapers, while that guy causes chaos worldwide.”
Poland, a former Eastern Bloc country, has taken a proactive approach by increasing defense spending to 4.7% this year and strongly criticizing Russia. Polish President Andrzej Duda advocated for the relocation of American nuclear weapons from Western Europe to Poland in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday. He emphasized the need for a shift of NATO infrastructure towards the east, stating, “This is a clear necessity for me.”
