Putin questions ceasefire while floating US energy deal
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The news: Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has "reservations" about a US-backed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, welcoming the idea but questioning its enforcement and long-term impact, while suggesting a potential US-Russia energy cooperation deal.
While saying he supported the idea, Putin raised concerns about how a ceasefire would be enforced, what would happen in Kursk where he claimed Ukrainian forces had committed crimes, and how Ukraine might use the 30-day pause along the front line.
What they said: "The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin said at a briefing in Moscow, broadcast by Rossiya 24 state TV.
“We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis,” he said.
"We support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means. But there are issues that we need to discuss. And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well."
Putin also floated the potential to strike an energy cooperation deal with the US, which he suggested could restore Russian gas flows to Europe.
At a press conference at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump called Putin’s response “promising but incomplete.”
"We want Russia to agree to a ceasefire," Trump told reporters. When asked about speaking with Putin, he said he would "love to meet" and discuss it with him.
“I hope Russia is going to make the deal,” he said, refusing to outline “leverage” he said the US had. “If president Putin agrees and does a ceasefire, I think we’re going, we’re gonna be in very good shape to get it done.”
The numbers: European gas prices fell 4.5% after Putin’s comments, erasing earlier gains.
“If, say, the US and Russia agree on cooperation in the energy sector, then a gas pipeline for Europe could be ensured,” Putin said. “And this will benefit Europe, as it will receive cheap Russian gas.”
During remarks at the Oval Office, Trump also said part of the areas of negotiation included "land that would be kept and lost," as well as "who is going to get the power plant," seemingly referring to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe.
The context: Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has worked to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, especially after a halt of gas transit through Ukraine on 1 January.
Currently, only a fraction of previous shipments reach Europe via TurkStream, according to Bloomberg.
While Putin framed the idea as beneficial for Europe, many European energy companies, such as Uniper SE and OMV AG, have already cut ties with Russia’s Gazprom, and EU governments remain hesitant to re-engage.
Earlier Thursday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed Trump’s proposal as “nothing other than a temporary timeout for Ukrainian soldiers."
The proposal, backed by Ukraine and the US, calls for a complete halt to air and artillery strikes along the entire front line, Axios noted.
Meanwhile, the Russian military said its forces had recaptured Sudzha in Kursk, one of the last key towns still held by Ukraine, reducing its leverage in negotiations.
