Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump hopes Russia ‘does the right thing’ as Putin questions ceasefire

Vladimir Putin says any ceasefire negotiations will depend on the situation on the ground.

“The situation on the ground is changing fast. Yesterday, in his report, the northern group partner told me: tomorrow Sudzha will be ours. And that’s what happened.

“I’m sure that all the plans in Kursk will be achieved just as they were in other areas along the front line.

“We are retaking each one of [the villages in Kursk]. Depending on how the situation on the ground develops, we will agree next steps as to a ceasefire and achieving mutually acceptable agreements.”

Putin has now directly addressed the US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

He says that Moscow supports the idea of a 30-day ceasefire – but not before certain issues are negotiated by the Kremlin.

“We are in favour of a 30-day ceasefire, but there are nuances,” Putin said. “First of all, what are we going to do about this incursion in Kursk?

“If we ceased hostilities for 30 days, would it mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they committed serious crimes against civilians there?

“How will other aspects be dealt with along with 2,000-kilometre contact line? As you know, the Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector of the contact line, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large [Ukrainian] units,” he added. “So what would happen during those 30 days?”

“The idea is good and we absolutely support it, but there are issues we need to discuss, and I think we need to negotiate with our American colleagues.”

Putin said a phone call with Donald Trump is possible.

Putin has now discussed the situation in Kursk, where a rapid Russian offensive has recaptured large pockets of land.

“The situation is fully under our control and the group that invaded our territory has been isolated, fully isolated,” he said.

“Ukraine’s control over the Ukrainian forces has been lost.

“If there is a physical blockade, in the next two days, nobody will be able to leave. There will be only two ways: surrender or die.”

Putin has now discussed what he thinks about Ukraine’s readiness for a ceasefire.

He started his comments by thanking US president Donald Trump.

“I will tell you what my assessment is, but I want to start by thanking the US president Mr Trump for giving so much attention to a settlement in Ukraine,” he told reporters.

“We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire… but this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace and should remove the root causes of this crisis.”

Putin is asked about the prospect of the US lifting sanctions – and what American companies returning to Russia could mean for the Russian firms.

Any companies which wish to return to Russia will be welcomed, he said.

But he added that sanctions on Russia have made it now “immune”, saying Russia’s enemies have “created Russia’s independence and our sovereignty”.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin behind closed doors tonight, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said.

“The meeting between Whitkoff and President Vladimir Putin will begin this evening in a closed format,” Russian newspaper Izvestia reported, citing Ushakov.

Ushakov earlier warned that the 30-day ceasefire deal which the US wants Russia to support is unlikely to be acceptable to Moscow in its current form.

Tactical nuclear arms have been deployed in Belarus to protect Russian security, president Vladimir Putin said in a press conference on Thursday.

Speaking next to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said: “We discussed in detail forming a common defence space.

“In Belarus, a joint regional group of forces has been deployed and modern defensive and tactical nuclear arms have been deployed.”

He reflected on his meeting with the Belarusian president in his opening remarks.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko are holding a press conference.

The pair, who are in the Kremlin, have just signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.

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The Kremlin does not expect president Vladimir Putin to speak with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday, foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said.

No agreement has been made on when the pair may hold a phone call, Interfax news agency cited Ushakov as saying.

Kyiv has received its first tranche of 2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.7 billion) under a G7 scheme which will see loans repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets, Ukraine’s Finance Ministry announced.

The G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative will see around $50 billion in loans paid to Ukraine, and Canada’s contribution will be $3.5 billion.

“Canada is a reliable and steadfast partner of Ukraine. I am grateful for the support of the ERA mechanism. It is a fair and necessary tool to hold Russia financially accountable for its crimes in Ukraine,” Ukrainian finance minister Serhii Marchenko said.