Putin rejects proposals for a ceasefire, but he says he is open to permanent peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to propose an immediate ceasefire on Thursday, but said he was open to a more permanent, Russian-friendly deal.

“We agree with the proposition of halting hostilities. Let's move on from the fact that, as translated by the state-run media outlet RT, such a ceasefire will lead to permanent peace and remove the original root cause of the crisis. Putin has said many times that the reason for the Russian invasion is Ukraine's intention to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Issues to be discussed

Regarding the peace agreement, Putin said there are issues that need to be discussed “with American colleagues and partners.” He said this is a sign that Moscow and Washington, DC are likely to be the ultimate decision-makers if peace is achieved in Eastern Europe. Ukraine had already agreed to the deal Russia refused.

US President Donald Trump reversed the Biden administration's policy of segregating Moscow and began talking to Putin shortly after winning the 2024 election.

Before Russia refused the contract on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “If their response is no, it would be very unfortunate and would make their intentions clear.” A few days ago, Trump said he was considering “massive bank sanctions” and Russian tariffs until a peace deal was reached.

There is no military solution

The summary of the rejected proposal came after eight hours of discussion with Ukrainian officials. Rubio told reporters Wednesday there was no military solution to the war, insisting that the bullet could tell them that they had to stop flying. “Neither side can achieve the greatest military gains. Its biggest goal. The only way this conflict can end is through negotiation,” he said. However, the outcome should include Ukraine's safety and long-term prosperity, Rubio added. Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelensky has repeatedly raised the need for security guarantees on the train and trains meeting with Trump on February 28th.

Can Ukraine create sufficient deterrent against future attacks, future attacks, and future invasions? Because every nation in the world has the right to protect itself, and no one can object to it. So it definitely has to be part of the conversation. But again, I don't think there is. There is no peace to secure until you get peace.

When asked whether the US would support European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, Rubio did not commit to the answer. He also refused to provide specific details of the proposal, citing the need for confidentiality during such negotiations. But he touched on what the Ukrainians wanted to see:

The Ukrainians have made it very clear that this is not just about ending the war. They need to regain their captives. They need to get their children back. They want to see the prisoners exchange. They want to get their children back. So all sorts of things are tied together. Humanitarian assistance is also important. The Ukraine region is severely damaged, requiring immediate assistance. So these are the kind of things we said to be comprehensive in the negotiation process.

Russia's demands

Regarding Russia's demands, the Kremlin would want to maintain Ukrainian territory, which it already controls, reverse Ukraine's anti-Russian cultural policy, and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

Among the reasons why Putin refuses to ceasefire is that a 30-day suspension only benefits Ukraine, he said. A pause will provide time for Ukrainians to regroup and rescue.

Meanwhile, the Russians have reclaimed Suda, Ukraine, the largest town in Ukraine, held in the Kursk region. Russia has also recaptured a series of villages, undoubtedly supported by the lack of information sharing by the US with Ukraine, which had been reopened by Wednesday.

The Russian troops that worked to regain Kursk's territory included North Korean forces. The Russians showed considerable dedication to this mission, according to reports. “Part 1 raw unused sections of the natural gas pipeline this week to highlight the Ukrainian troops defending the Ukrainian army, nearly dying several people from methane poisoning.