Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed cautious optimism on Friday regarding a proposed ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia. This comes following talks between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Speaking to reporters in a telephone news briefing, Peskov referenced comments from Putin on Thursday in which he showed qualified support for a U.S. ceasefire proposal to end Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine for a period of 30 days. However, Putin also emphasized that there were some questions that needed to be answered before a final decision could be made.
Peskov stated that while there is still much work to be done, Putin has shown solidarity with U.S. President Donald Trump’s position. He also revealed that Putin held late night talks on Thursday with Witkoff, during which he conveyed additional information and signals to President Trump.
According to Peskov, both sides agreed that Putin and Trump should speak, but the timing of the conversation will be decided once Witkoff has conveyed the new information to Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address to the nation on Thursday, called Putin’s comments “very manipulative” and believed that his qualified support for the U.S. plan was a way to pave the way for its rejection.
Zelenskyy added, “He is in fact preparing a rejection at present, because Putin is, of course, scared to tell President Trump that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians.” He also stated that Ukraine has accepted the U.S. proposal and is ready to organize monitoring and verification, while Russia is the one setting conditions that complicate the process.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday that currently, there are no scheduled discussions between Trump and Putin, but this could change in the future. Leavitt also mentioned that Trump has been pressuring Russia on his Truth Social media account to “do the right thing.” She described the talks in Moscow on Thursday as a productive day for the United States and the world in terms of peace.
In a pre-talk session at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump stated that it would be “very disappointing” if Russia ultimately rejects the U.S. efforts to end the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Defense Ministry released a report on Friday stating that Russia has prioritized funding its war with Ukraine, leading to insufficient funding for the healthcare of average Russians. The report revealed that in 2024, Russia closed down at least 160 hospitals, including 18 maternity facilities and 10 children’s clinics. The closures have largely affected small towns and villages.
The Defense Ministry also highlighted the strain on the Russian military medical system due to the 500,000 casualties sustained in the Ukraine war. This has had a ripple effect on all levels of care in the Russian military, making it challenging to provide adequate healthcare to the soldiers.
Despite this, the news of the proposed ceasefire deal and Putin’s apparent support for it has brought a glimmer of hope for an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The talks in Moscow have been a positive step towards achieving peace and stability in the region.
The international community, including the United States and NATO, must continue to put pressure on Russia to honor the proposed ceasefire and work towards a long-term solution to the conflict. The people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace, and it is time for the war to come to an end. We must not let this opportunity for peace slip away.
