Moscow, 14 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his agreement to a US-proposed ceasefire in the war against Ukraine conditional on his previously stated maximum demands in the more than three-year armed conflict.

At a highly anticipated press conference on Thursday, Putin expressed concerns that the ceasefire would be broken – and that both warring parties would blame each other for such incidents.

Putin also hinted that Ukraine could use the ceasefire to take a breather, rearm and recruit new soldiers, and then continue the war.

For its part, Ukraine sees the danger that Russian troops could use a ceasefire to reposition themselves.

The Kremlin also reiterated its territorial claims. The situation on the ground must be taken into account in the negotiations, said Putin, flanked by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who was in Russia on an official visit.

Moscow is demanding that Ukraine completely withdraw its forces from the areas it has declared part of its own territory – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson. The rest of Ukraine is to be largely disarmed, according to the Russian side.

Ukraine insists that it must receive extensive security guarantees for a long-term peace. The United States does not want to make such a commitment, but has indicated the Europeans should do so.

Photo: EPA