Posted on 03/13/2025 8:07:48 AM PDT by thegagline
A senior aide to President Vladimir Putin has rejected any temporary cease-fire with Ukraine just hours before a US delegation arrived in Russia for talks with Moscow where they will urge the Kremlin to agree to a 30-day cease-fire proposal or face sanctions.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said in an interview broadcast on state television on March 13 that U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed cease-fire, which Kyiv has agreed to, would only give Ukraine time to recover from pressure Russia has been exerting on its troops.
"I have stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more," said Ushakov, Ushakov, who has more than half a century of involvement in diplomacy and is considered to be the Kremlin's chief foreign policy adviser. *** During a March 12 White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Trump expressed confidence about securing a cease-fire for Ukraine and said that U.S. negotiators were “traveling to Russia right now, as we speak.” ***
As Trump spoke at the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin was donning combat fatigues for a visit to troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing. ***
During his visit to Kursk -- his only visit since the incursion began -- Putin urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."
He also said that captured Ukrainian soldiers would be treated as "terrorists." ***
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
“They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” May 2023*
* technically, he didn’t say which 24 hours.
The whole Kursk Campaign was ill conceived and ultimately would end with Russia retaking it.
Russia has a sizable “ghost fleet” which are utilized to skirt sanctions.
Despite the loss of manpower, Ukraine still hasn’t lowered the age of conscription from 25 years old.
That’s not a surprise, I’d do the same thing in this situation. The side that is losing wants relief, the side that is winning wants to keep the pressure on.
This is the problem when dealing with two sides who are longstanding, bitter enemies (much like Israel & the Muslims). Neither side has much desire to stop killing each other.
Statements to the media are just posturing. Negotiations take place behind closed doors.
What did anyone expect them to say? That is their initial offer.
This is just an aide to Putin, not an official position.
Both sides can win by stopping the fighting. If the fighting stops, China stops winning.
I think he wants to retake Kursk before agreeing to a cease fire. If he agrees to a cease fire, Ukraine would say they'll give back Kursk if the Russians will give back part of Ukrainian territory.
And Putin thinks they can retake Kursk. Looking on a map of the front lines, Kursk is surrounded on three sides by Russian troops. I'm no expert but it looks like it would be a difficult plot of land to hold while mostly surrounded.
I see that the same way. Why would Russia agree? That said, these steps are just parts to a bigger discussion, IMO.
At least some discussions are sending place instead of sending out $10-20 Billion of our money each month or so without any discussion or even oversight at all.
Yeah that looks like the issue both side aren’t done fighting. Trump is offering Putin an off ramp he might want to take it before America comes online with oil
Putin's in 2021 posted a 5,000 world essay on why Ukrainian statehood was a historical mistake
Ukraine has nothing until Putin details all his requirements for a cease fire. Then talks could begin.
I see it as part and parcel of it all!
Correct, but it gives the lazy media an easy headline for clicks
Putin will not agree to a peace agreement as long as Zelensky is in power.
I suspect Putin will not even agree to a cease fire as long as Zelensky is in power.
And from a strictly pragmatic point of view, why would he as he clearly has the advantage on the battlefield.
He’s so greedy. Russia is a huge country already why does he need more land? I understand why he’s nervous about NATO but that doesn’t mean he needs to take over the whole of Ukraine.
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