Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States, outlining multiple conditions that must be met before Russia could consider agreeing to the conditions.

The Guardian reports that while Russia has acknowledged the proposal, but Putin states that some root causes of the conflict must first be addressed.

On March 11, 2025, Ukraine announced its acceptance of the ceasefire plan. However, the agreement remains contingent on "acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation."

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Putin would "reciprocate" and agree to the terms.

Putin questions Ukraine’s intentions for ceasefire period

During a press conference in the Kremlin, Putin stated that the idea of a ceasefire was valid and that Russia supported it. However, he raised concerns about how Ukraine would utilize the 30-day pause in hostilities, asking:

"Will these 30 days be used for continued forced mobilization in Ukraine? To further supply weapons to Ukraine? These are legitimate questions."

Putin suggested that during the ceasefire, Ukraine should refrain from rearming or mobilizing, and that Western military aid to Kyiv should be halted. He further claimed that Ukraine sought the ceasefire because Russian forces were "advancing almost everywhere."

Additionally, Putin asserted that Russia had fully regained control of the Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in 2024. According to BBC News, he stated:

"They are trying to leave, but we are in control. Their equipment has been abandoned. There are two options for Ukrainians in Kursk – surrender or die."

Zelensky accuses Putin of making the ceasefire impossible

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Putin of setting unrealistic preconditions, making the ceasefire unworkable in practice.

"Putin doesn’t say no directly, but he is preparing for a rejection in practice. The Russian leader’s conditions were designed to ensure that "nothing will work at all."

Zelenskyy also suggested that Putin was reluctant to tell President Trump outright that he intends to continue the war.

Trump Open to Meeting Putin Amid New U.S. Sanctions

Meanwhile, President Trump responded to Putin’s remarks by stating he would "love" to meet with him and expressed optimism that Russia would ultimately agree to the ceasefire.

"We've been discussing with Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, along with other elements of a final agreement. A lot of the details have already been discussed," Trump said.

In parallel, the U.S. administration has imposed new restrictions on Russia’s energy and financial sectors. The Treasury Department has allowed a 60-day exemption—initially granted under former President Joe Biden—to expire. This exemption had permitted sanctioned Russian banks to continue specific energy transactions. Its expiration now means Russian banks can no longer use U.S. payment systems for major energy deals.

Additionally, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has arrived in Moscow for closed-door discussions with Putin.