Ukraine Ceasefire: President Putin Has Issues? – OpEd

Russian President Putin said that he agrees in principle with a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasised that it “Should pave the way to lasting peace…But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”

Putin noted that while it appeared that the US persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire, Ukraine is interested in that because of the battlefield situation. President Putin thanked Trump for his efforts to end the war.

Putin’s Conditions for Ukraine Ceasefire

President Putin while speaking at a news conference in Moscow said of the ceasefire proposal: “The idea is right – and we support it – We are in favour of it, but there are nuances and there are questions that we need to discuss:”

• Conditions include barring NATO membership for Ukraine and no foreign troops in the country.
• A ceasefire should lead to “an enduring peace and remove the root causes of this crisis”.
• “We need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners.” 
• One of the areas of contention is Russia’s Kursk region.
• Putin said, where Ukraine launched a military incursion last year and captured some territory.” There are two options for Ukrainians in Kursk – surrender or die.”
• “How will those 30 days be used? For Ukraine to mobilise? Rearm? Train people? Or none of that? Then a question – how will that be controlled?”
• “Who will give the order to end the fighting? At what cost? Who decides who has broken any possible ceasefire, over 2,000km? All those questions need meticulous work from both sides. Who polices it?”

Moscow has put across these and similar demands over the past two decades to the US, NATO and Europe. These demands were discussed with the Biden administration in a series of meetings in late 2021 and early 2022, when they were last rejected after which Russia launched the full-scale invasion.

Russian Ultimatum to NATO prior to the Invasion

On 17 December 2021, prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia had sought Security guaranties with NATO and the US: 

• NATO members commit to no further enlargement of the alliance, including in particular to Ukraine.
• NATO deploy no forces or weapons in countries that joined the alliance after May 1997. 
• Ban on deployment of intermediate-range missiles in areas where they could reach the other side’s territory
• Ban on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia
• Both countries “not implement security measures … that could undermine core security interests of the other Party”
• US undertake to prevent further NATO enlargement
• Ban on deployment of US intermediate-range missiles in Europe
• Limit heavy bombers and surface warships to operate in and over international waters in range of the other side
• Both side’s nuclear weapons only be deployed on national territory^[21]

The demands were rejected by NATO and the US on 26 January 2022; the Russian invasion of  Ukraine  followed one month later on 24 February.

Istanbul in 2022-Draft Agreement Discussed. 

US and Russian officials in recent weeks have pointed to a draft agreement discussed between Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow in Istanbul in 2022 as a possible foundation for new peace talks. That agreement was never finalized.

During those talks, Russia demanded that Ukraine renounce its NATO aspirations and adopt a permanent non-nuclear status. Moscow also sought a veto over any military assistance provided to Ukraine by other countries in the event of a future conflict.

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is helping lead discussions with Russia, described the 2022 Istanbul negotiations as “coherent and substantive,” suggesting that they could serve as a foundation for a new peace deal. Meanwhile, Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff behind closed doors in Moscow. However, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s top Ukraine and Russia envoy, recently told the Council on Foreign Relations that he does not view the Istanbul talks as a viable starting point. “I think we need to develop something entirely new,” Kellogg said.

Ball will be in President Trump’s Court

Ukrainian President Zelensky described Putin’s response to the plan as “manipulative” and Putin had set so many pre-conditions “that nothing will work out at all” and called for more sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, the US placed further sanctions on Russian oil, gas and banking sectors.

After Putin’s remarks and Zelensky’s response, there is now a clear divide between both sides’ positions. Ukraine wants a two-stage process: a quick ceasefire and then talks about a longer-term settlement. Russia believes you cannot separate the two processes, and all the issues should be decided in a single deal! Both warring leaders continue to argue their respective concerns.

US President Donald Trump is awaiting a response from Putin on whether he will agree to a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukrainian President Zelensky has said he is willing to accept as a first step toward broader peace negotiations. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov rejected the 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine put forward by the US.

At this stage, both Ukraine and Russia appear unwilling to agree to a ceasefire on each other’s terms. Unless both sides see more strategic benefit in stopping the war than continuing it, a ceasefire remains difficult to achieve. Russia’s demands though not new are not just aimed at shaping an agreement with Ukraine but also serve as a framework for its future relations with Western powers especially with NATO and the US.

Putin Questions: “Who will give the order to end the fighting? Who decides who has broken any possible ceasefire, over 2,000km? All those questions need meticulous work from both sides. Who polices it?” All these are a matter of detail but first of all President Putin has to agree to implement the US proposed 30-day Ceasefire. During the Ceasefire other modalities and issues can be discussed. As of March 14, 2025, a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has been proposed by the US and accepted by Ukraine. However, Russian President Putin has not yet agreed to the immediate implementation of the ceasefire, citing the need for further discussions and clarification on various issues, including conditions that would prevent Ukraine from rearming and halt Western aid. Consequently, the start date of the ceasefire remains uncertain, pending Russia’s agreement to the terms.

This now presents a problem for President Trump. He has made it clear he wants a quick result, ending the fighting in days. Once President Putin agrees to implement the 30-day Ceasefire then the world needs to watch how President Trump plays his “The Art of Deal” cards with President Putin on the global canvas. Ukraine ceasefire would be an extremely complex undertaking, requiring agreements on multiple levels.