Strongly criticizing the US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that the move would just be a "breather" for the Ukrainian military.
The development came after Ukraine said yes to the 30-day ceasefire proposal presented by the officials of the United States in Saudi Arabia. As per a report by NDTV, US negotiators reached Russia on Thursday to present their plan for the proposed ceasefire in Ukraine.
What Did Putin's Aide Say?
On Thursday, Ushakov said that a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States to pause the war in Ukraine would simply give Kyiv's forces a much-needed battlefield respite.
"I stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more," Reuters quoted Ushakov saying.
"Our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country and our well-known concerns. It seems to me that no one needs any steps that (merely) imitate peaceful actions in this situation," he further added.
"It would be nothing more than a temporary breather for the Ukrainian military," Yuri Ushakov told state media after speaking by phone to US national security advisor Mike Waltz.
Russia's Conditions For Truce
One of the most recent items added to the list is the expulsion of Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region.
As per a report by Politico, Putin has ordered his troops to defeat Ukrainian forces in Kursk as soon as possible. This statement comes after the Russian president visited a command post in Kursk.
"I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy,” he was quoted as saying by Russian state media.
Politico further stated that Putin said that captured Ukrainian fighters "will be treated as terrorists, in accordance with the laws of Russian Federation."
Other conditions on Russia's list for a ceasefire include no NATO membership for Ukraine, an agreement not to deploy foreign troops in Ukraine, and international recognition of Crimea and four other provinces as Russian territories.
America's Stance On Ceasefire
US President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of "devastating sanctions" against Moscow if it does not agree to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. This warning comes after Ukraine agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal presented by the United States in Saudi Arabia.
As US officials head to Moscow for the truce talks, Russia is expected to lay down its conditions for a truce with Ukraine.
"We could do things very bad for Russia. It would be devastating for Russia. But I don't want to do that because I want to see peace, and we're getting close to maybe getting something done," Trump told reporters.
"People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished," he added further.
