Russian president backs idea of stopping hostilities, but calls for 'enduring peace'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he agreed with the proposal to stop the hostilities, but that it should lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original roots of the crisis.

He also indicated that a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump might be needed.

"We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities, but it should lead to enduring peace and remove underlying causes of this crisis," he said.

The Russian president added that there were nuances to be resolved.

As an example, and referencing the Kursk region, he went on to ask "if we ceased hostilities … what would that mean?"

He was referring to the details of any ceasefire, such as who would supervise it and if it meant that Moscow would be giving up what he claimed was Moscow's current battlefield advantage, as Ukrainian troops might use the time to resupply.

Putin was scheduled to meet the US envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, that same evening.

Speaking after Putin, US President Donald Trump said he would "love" to meet his opposite number and that he hoped that Moscow would do "the right thing".

"He put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," Trump also said.

"But we have to get it over with fast [...] it'll be a very disappointing moment for the world" should Russia not be in agreement with the ceasefire deal.

"[...] We've been discussing with Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement," Trump said.

"A lot of the details of a final agreement have actually been discussed."

As regards Kyiv joining NATO, Trump said that "everybody knows what the answer to that is."

In the background, sanctions on Russian oil and gas, that had been postponed for 60 days under the Biden administration, were allowed to come into effect.