The Russian president, if asked, could talk about Ukraine at a press conference he will give on Thursday after meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, suggesting that Vladimir Putin is ready to open his hand to Trump's proposal for a temporary ceasefire.
"Everything will depend on what the journalists ask," Peskov said in particular when asked whether the presidents of Russia and Belarus would comment on issues beyond bilateral relations, such as Ukraine, after the latest US statements.
A US delegation is expected to arrive in Russia today for negotiations after Zelensky accepted Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, while according to the Kremlin and White House, a direct Trump-Putin conversation is imminent.
Officially, the Kremlin is saying that Russia is carefully considering the proposal and will take a position after talking to Washington.
Today, reports by Reuters and the Washington Post are publishing Russia's terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine based on sources with knowledge of the talks with the US that have been underway for some time.
Russia's terms
According to Reuters, Russia's demands are that Ukraine not join NATO, that foreign troops not be deployed on the country's territory, and that there be international recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and four other provinces.
These are terms that Moscow has more or less formulated publicly recently.
The American newspaper publishes a classified document compiled by a Kremlin-friendly think tank that recommends Putin "ignite tensions between the US, China and the EU."
This document was allegedly written for the 5th FSB office a week before the meeting between Americans and Russians in Saudi Arabia at the end of February, with some of the proposals having already been announced by Moscow.
For example, the document in question urges Russia to use the proposal to allow American companies to exploit rare earths in occupied Ukrainian territories as a bargaining chip, something that Moscow actually adopted.
It is worth noting that since the start of the Russian-American talks until today, developments have been rapid, which may have affected Russia's negotiating position, which on the one hand does not want to appear to be blocking the peace proposal, but on the other hand seeks to establish its sovereignty over Ukrainian territories three years after the start of the war.
Trump's statements
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that "the ball is really in Russia's court" and that the US believes the only way to end the fighting is through peace negotiations.
Following the Ukraine agreement, the US decided to resume military aid to Kiev, a fact that is causing skepticism in Moscow, with officials assessing that the proposal for a temporary ceasefire is a trap by Trump for Putin, who has previously stated that a temporary ceasefire is not in his country's interest.
Officially, the Kremlin is saying that Russia is carefully examining the proposal and will take a position after talking with Washington.
Yesterday, Vladimir Putin, wearing a military uniform, visited Kursk for the first time since Ukraine's invasion, sending a message that the Russian army will push back Ukrainian forces and threatened that any Ukrainians captured will be treated as terrorists and not as prisoners of war.
Speaking with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said he had received "positive messages" from Russia about the possibility of a ceasefire.
Trump also said he believes a ceasefire would make sense for Russia, adding - without further details - that there are also "many disadvantages for Moscow."
"We have a very complicated situation that is being resolved on one side. More or less resolved. We also discussed the situation on the ground and other things that go along with it," Trump added.
"We know the areas of land we're talking about, whether it's a withdrawal or not." Asked how he could pressure Russia to accept the proposal, Trump spoke of "tough economic sanctions" but said he wouldn't want to impose them because he "wants peace."
Source: in.gr
