RUSSIA: Putin-Ceasefire Is Right & We Support It, But Lots Of Questions Remain

Speaking in a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on the situation of the war in Ukraine and the prospect of a ceasefire and peace talks. Claims that "We agree to stop fighting in Ukraine but it should lead to a long-standing peace." 

• Claiming that the situation in the Kursk region - subject to a Ukrainian incursion since last summer - is 'fully under Russian control', Putin claims that 'for Ukraine it will be good to reach a 30-day ceasefire in such circumstances.'
• Comes as Politico reports that US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff will meet with Putin later tonight to discuss the US-Ukraine talks that took place in Saudi Arabia earlier this week and the proposed short-term ceasefire.
• Putin: 'If there is a ceasefire, it's not clear how the situation will develop in Kursk and elsewhere...Why do they need 30-day ceasefire, for mobilisation or weapon supplies to Ukraine? There are a lot of questions, such as who will control the ceasefire, the front is almost 2,000KM long?'.
• Says 'the ceasefire itself is right and we will support it, but there are questions to be discussed'.
• Putin: 'If the US and Russia agree on energy cooperation, then a gas pipeline for Europe could be provided...It will be beneficial for Europe thanks to cheap Russian gas.'
• Putin: 'The situation on the front is fast-chainging, we will agree next steps on conflict taking into account developments on the front'.