Asked directly about the ceasefire, Putin began by thanking President Donald Trump for focusing on the issue, reports The Guardian.
"We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire to cease hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace, and should remove the root causes of this crisis," he said.
Putin also touched on his recent visit to Kursk, where he said the situation was "fully under our control" following what he called an incursion into Russian territory. He stated that Ukrainian troops in the area were now isolated, "They will have to surrender or die," he said.
Putin continued by discussing what a ceasefire would actually mean on the ground. He questioned whether a ceasefire would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw and what should be done about those accused of committing crimes against civilians.
"Would that mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians there, or will the Ukrainian leadership command them to surrender? What will happen? That’s not clear."
"How will other aspects be dealt with along the 2,000-kilometer 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 units. So what would happen during those 30 days?"
"Would that allow Ukraine to continue a forced mobilization, a supply of arms to Ukraine, so that the newly mobilized units can be trained, or will that not be done?"
The Russian president also questioned the logistics of enforcing a ceasefire along such a large battlefield: "Who will give orders to cease hostilities? And what will these orders be worth along 2,000 kilometers? Who will decide where there’s been a violation of the possible ceasefire agreement, and who will be blamed? Who will be blamed for violating the ceasefire?"
Putin said these issues must be "carefully, painstakingly studied by both sides" before moving forward with an agreement.
"So 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 and partners, maybe a phone call with President Trump, but the very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means—we support that."
