Vladimir Putin: Russia was not against this proposal of the idea of an interim ceasefire but a lot of nuances had to be considered

Photo: Kremlin.ru

Russia is in full control of the situation in the Kursk Region and the Ukrainian combat group is completely blocked, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in the Kremlin on Thursday, TASS informs.

"The situation is fully under our control and the grouping that invaded our territory is in isolation," the Head of State said.

"This is full isolation and full gunfire control," Putin stressed.

Command and control of Ukrainian troops in that area of their incursion in the Kursk Region has been lost, the Russian leader stressed.

"If at the first stages, literally a week or two ago, Ukrainian servicemen tried to withdraw from there in large groups, now it is impossible," he pointed out.

Now Ukrainian troops are trying "to withdraw from there in small groups of two-three men" because everything is under full gunfire control, the Russian president said.

"Equipment has been fully abandoned and it is impossible to withdraw it. It remains there and this is for certain. And if they [Ukrainian troops] are physically blocked in the coming days, no one will be able to withdraw from there. Only two options will be available: to surrender or perish," the head of state added.

The situation along the line of contact between the Russian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian army is rapidly changing in Russia’s favor, Vladimir Putin said.

"As for the situation on the ground <...>, it is rapidly changing. The battlegroup North commander and his deputy reported to me yesterday: ‘Sudzha will be ours tomorrow.’ And this is exactly what happened," the Russian leader noted.

Putin especially thanked Russian forces for liberating the town of Sudzha in the Kursk Region.

Russia’s borderline Kursk Region came under a massive attack from Ukraine on August 6, 2024. According to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, 86% of the territory occupied by Ukrainian troops has been liberated. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy has lost over 67,000 troops since fighting began in the Kursk area.

"Command and control of Ukrainian troops inside the incursion zone is no longer possible," Putin said. "During the first stages, the Ukrainian military attempted to leave this zone in small groups. This is no longer possible."

In his words, the encircled Ukrainian troops are trying to break out "in small groups of two or three men," because they are now stuck in the area fully exposed to Russian fire.

"They are leaving their military equipment behind, because there is no way to evacuate it. It will remain there, that’s for sure," the President added.

Moscow will make agreements on the next steps to end the conflict in Ukraine based on the situation on the ground, Vladimir Putin said, TASS quotes.

"We will make agreements on the next steps to end the conflict and achieve the accords that will be acceptable for all based on the situation on the ground," Putin pointed out.

Vladimir Putin cautioned that potential ceasefire control in Ukraine was very complex. The Head of State mentioned this issue, responding to a question at a press conference about Moscow’s attitude to the idea of an interim ceasefire. He said that Russia was not against this proposal but a lot of nuances had to be considered.

"How will issues be resolved along the entire line of engagement that is almost 2,000 km long?" Putin remarked. "Who will issue ceasefire orders? And what is the price of these orders? Do you imagine: almost 2,000 km? Who will determine where and who has violated a potential ceasefire agreement along 2,000 km? And who will then blame who for violating that agreement? These are all the issues that require a careful examination from both sides," Putin said.

The head of state also said it was necessary to think about the situation in the Kursk Region where Russian forces were ejecting Ukrainian armed formations.

"If we cease combat operations for 30 days, what does this mean? That all those located there will be withdrawing without battles? That we have to let them free after they have committed a great many crimes against civilians? Or will the Ukrainian leadership give them a command to lay down their arms and simply surrender? How will this look like? It is not clear," Putin said, describing the situation.

Putin also raised the issue of how Ukraine would use the 30-day ceasefire.

"How will these 30 days be used? For the purpose of continuing forced mobilization in Ukraine? For the purpose of supplying weapons there? For the purpose of newly mobilized personnel to undergo training? Or will nothing of this kind be done? Then a question arises: how will the issues of control, verification be addressed? How can we ensure and how will we be guaranteed that nothing of this kind takes place? How will control be organized? I hope that this is understandable to everyone at the level of common sense. These are all serious issues," the head of state stressed.

…Negotiations between the delegations of the United States and Ukraine took place in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on March 11. Their joint statement says that Ukraine is ready to accept a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and sign a minerals deal with Washington, while the US will immediately lift the pause in providing intelligence and resume assistance to Kiev.

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