Global Time:US envoy to relay Putin’s stance after meeting in Moscow; Evolving battlefield dynamics complicate cease-fire plan: expert

Source:Global Time

Reprinting link:https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330158.shtml

By Wang Qi

Published: Mar 15, 2025 12:08 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference following a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, 13 March 2025. Photo: VCG

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff late Thursday to discuss the details of an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asking him to relay Moscow's perspectives to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported. This follows Putin's remarks Thursday that Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine, but nuances exist.

Peskov indicated that a potential phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump to address unresolved ceasefire issues could be arranged once Witkoff delivers Moscow's messages to Washington, according to the AP report.  

He [Witkoff] was received by President Putin late last night, providing additional information to Russia. Through Witkoff, Putin conveyed messages and further signals to President Trump, Peskov explained, as reported by TASS. However, the Kremlin spokesman refrained from disclosing the specific topics covered during the meeting. 

A TASS source noted that Witkoff departed Moscow around 11 a.m. local time on Friday.  

Witkoff landed in Moscow for talks and presented the ceasefire plan on Thursday. The ceasefire proposal gained traction earlier this week when Ukraine, following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, expressed support for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.  

Speaking at a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked, "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Putin highlighted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies, according to the report. 

Putin also indicated that he might call Trump to discuss the issue, adding that Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," according to Xinhua.

Wan Qingsong, an expert at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Putin's statement continues Russia's previously expressed openness to peace talks while reaffirming that any negotiations must address the root causes of the conflict. Furthermore, Putin is also signaling an intent to sustain the thawing momentum of Russia-US relations that has already begun. 

Mixed reactions

US President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end. 

Also in response to Putin's statement, President Trump said earlier that there have been "good signals" coming out of Russia. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "Putin put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," the AP reported. 

"Now we'll see if Russia follows through. If they don't, it'll be a deeply disappointing moment for the world," Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict, according to AP. 

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a "pessimistic tone" in his evening address to Ukrainians on Thursday, the New York Times said. 

Zelensky said Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal was "very predictable." He added that Putin has set so many preconditions "that nothing will work out at all, or that it will not work out for as long as possible," according to the media report.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that all parties are exercising diplomatic flexibility to signal to their domestic populations and the international community that they are not the ones impeding peace or exacerbating the conflict.

Nevertheless, their reactions also underscore profound disagreements over arrangements for enduring security, presenting formidable obstacles to a comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Li said. 

Li noted that the peace plan put forward by the US does not adequately account for the demands of all stakeholders. The ceasefire proposal, laden with temporary measures, lacks the foundation for long-term stability, raising the risk of a superficial "ceasefire for ceasefire's sake."

According to Wan, the parties involved may still be engaged in a phase of mutual probing. "Within the US-Ukraine joint statement issued Tuesday, the US pledge to resume military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine stands in apparent contradiction to the very objective of securing a ceasefire."

The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that the UN will welcome any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, hoping that it will be concluded and lead to a lasting peace, according to Tass. 

"On the Ukraine crisis, China has all along followed the four points proposed by President Xi Jinping on what must be done, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

"We hope relevant parties will reach a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace," Mao said.

Based on 'new realities'

Meanwhile, ministers from G7 countries are holding meetings in Canada, seeking unity amid both US tariff pressure and the followup of the Ukraine crisis. 

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who opened the formal G7 meeting, said she hoped to find ways to "continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal aggression." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the G7 to avoid "antagonistic" language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the conflict, according to Deutsche Welle.  

According to a communique draft seen by Reuters, there is no mention of possible new sanctions on Russia. However, it stressed the need for "robust and credible security guarantees" so that a ceasefire would be respected and that Ukraine would be able to "deter and defend itself against future aggression."

As the US envoy landed in Moscow on Thursday for talks on an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia's Defense Ministry announced the same day that its forces had retaken the key town of Sudzha in Ukraine-held Kursk region, following President Putin's visit to Kursk.

Putin said on Thursday that Russia is in full control of the situation in the Kursk Region and the Ukrainian combat group is completely blocked, per TASS. 

Earlier on Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told media that the ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine is a "temporary respite" for Ukraine's military, according to Xinhua. Ushakov said in a TV interview that Moscow is striving for a "long-term" peaceful settlement that takes into account Russia's legitimate interests.

Negotiations with Moscow are unlikely to yield progress if the US and Ukraine fail to take into account the new battlefield realities and Russia's core demands for resolving the conflict, Wan said.

Territorial issues will clearly influence whether peace negotiations can achieve substantive progress, noted Wan, adding that as Russia gains the upper hand on the battlefield, its demands are likely to escalate, leaving less room for compromise, rather than merely accommodating US' preferences.