On Thursday Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire deal that was drafted by the U.S. and U.K. and agreed to by Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said the temporary ceasefire would allow Ukraine’s forces time to regroup. Negotiations are not over however, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow Thursday to discuss peace plans.
“Russia is not interested in temporary solutions to the Ukraine conflict and instead wants to achieve a lasting peaceful settlement that takes Moscow’s interests and concerns into account, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov has said,” RT said Thursday.
Notably, the 30-day ceasefire was accompanied by a reinstatement of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
“Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has hinted that US-Russia talks could take place in the near future, perhaps even later on Thursday,” RT said.
Talks between Russia and the U.S. have begun as Witkoff arrived in Moscow Thursday.
The U.S. / Russian meeting will cover the results from Tuesday’s peace summit between officials from Kiev and Washington in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“At a press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed that Moscow had closely examined the results of the talks and the relevant statements, but added that Moscow had yet to receive a formal ceasefire proposal,” RT said Thursday. “Russia, she stressed, is open to discussing the initiative, while touting Witkoff’s arrival in the Russian capital.”
On Wednesday Putin visited the liberated Kursk oblast while wearing a military uniform.
“Our goal is to inflict a defeat upon the enemy entrenched on the territory of Kursk Region on short notice,” Putin said.
He also said Moscow will consider making a ‘security zone’ along Russia’s border with Ukraine as well. Putin added that the Ukrainian military forces which invaded the region in August 2024 should be treated as terrorists.
“The Ukrainian military lost over 67,000 servicemen in their attempted incursion, Gerasimov said, adding that the Russian troops liberated more than 1,100 square kilometers, or 86% of the area initially occupied by Kiev since the start of the counteroffensive last year,” RT said Wednesday.