Putin Signals Hesitation Over Ukraine Ceasefire Amid U.S. Pressure

The Russian president raises conditions for a proposed 30-day truce as Moscow retakes territory in Kursk and U.S.-Ukraine talks push for peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed conditional support for a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire but emphasized that it must address Russia's demands, including the status of occupied territories and NATO involvement in Ukraine.
Ukraine has agreed to the ceasefire plan, but President Zelenskyy accused Putin of stalling by attaching conditions to delay or derail the agreement.
The Kremlin dismissed the U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, as an unofficial negotiator, with no confirmation of substantive talks between the U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow.
Russian forces have regained significant territory in the Kursk region, including the town of Sudzha, which Ukrainian troops had occupied since 2024, while Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure in the area.
The U.S. has toughened sanctions on Russian banks and energy sectors and hinted at potential concessions involving the Donbas region as part of broader peace negotiations.