Breaking: Putin Dismisses U.S. Cease-Fire Deal with Ukraine, Demands More Concessions

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Thursday the Trump administration’s cease-fire proposal with Ukraine in its current form and demanded further concessions, including that the U.S. and Europe cut off arms shipments to Ukraine, before Moscow agrees to halt fighting.

“We agree with proposals to cease hostilities [in Ukraine], but this cessation must lead to a long-term peace and eliminate the root cause of the initial crisis,” Putin said Thursday, without detailing what he believes the root causes to be.

Putin suggested a call with President Donald Trump and discussions with American counterparts about his terms for a possible cease-fire agreement.

Putin also declared that some questions still need to be hashed out before Russia agrees to a deal. Putin mentioned the small contingent of Ukrainian forces in the western Russian region of Kursk and whether Ukraine would receive arms shipment during the temporary cease-fire period. He insisted that Ukraine should not mobilize its forces or train soldiers during the cease-fire, without indicating whether Russia would do the same.

Earlier Thursday, the Russians said they were open to beginning peace negotiations with the U.S. immediately to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“We are ready to discuss the initiatives set out there in future contacts with the United States. Such contacts are already possible as early as today,” said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was the leading U.S. official in the talks with Russia Thursday, adding to Witkoff’s extensive diplomatic portfolio.

Ukraine agreed to a 30-day cease-fire proposal from the U.S. during talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week between top officials from both nations. The U.S. said it would present the cease-fire proposal to Russia following the diplomatic breakthrough with Ukraine.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky lamented Thursday morning the lack of a “meaningful” response from Russia to the cease-fire deal and praised the U.S. for its cease-fire agreement.

“Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made. This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” Zelensky said on X.

Trump has made clear his intention to end the fighting in Ukraine and bring both countries to the negotiating table. Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a heated dispute last month with Zelensky at the White House over American military aid to Ukraine and the chances of peace with Russia.

Zelensky later issued a statement expressing regret for how the White House meeting turned out, opening the door for the peace negotiations. The confrontation caused the U.S. to temporarily halt military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which were both restored as part of the cease-fire deal.

The dispute also meant a minerals agreement between the two countries was not signed, but the deal is now back on the table following the productive discussions in Saudi Arabia. Trump predicted over the weekend on Air Force One that Ukraine would end up signing the minerals deal, National Review’s Audrey Fahlberg reported.

Before the blowup with Zelensky, Trump had intensified his rhetoric towards Ukraine, calling Zelensky a “dictator” and blaming him for the war against Russia that began because of Russia’s invasion. Trump later backtracked his comments about Zelensky and praised the bravery of Ukraine’s military forces.

Last month, American officials met with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia for talks that were meant to reset relations and open the door to future peace negotiations. The meeting came after President Trump spoke with Putin earlier in February.

Meanwhile, the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, with a Russian missile attack killing one person and wounding at least nine in the central Ukrainian town of Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s home town. Russia’s attack on Zelensky’s home town follows a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow earlier this week on strategic Russian oil assets. Three people were killed and 18 were injured in the process.