Air attacks are continuing between Russia and Ukraine, despite efforts to secure a ceasefire that would lead to an end to the war and a lasting peace.
Ukraine and Russia are still exchanging heavy aerial bombardments. Fighting is ongoing in the Russian region of Kursk, where Kremlin forces are looking to eject Ukrainian troops from their only foothold within Russia.
Moscow reported that it had destroyed dozens of Ukrainian drones over Russian airspace, including during an attack on the border region of Belgorod.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he supported President Donald Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but that Russian forces would continue fighting until certain key demands were met.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said of the ceasefire proposal: “The idea is right —and we support it —but there are questions that we need to discuss.”
A ceasefire should lead to “an enduring peace and remove the root causes of this crisis,” Putin said.
“We need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have a call with Donald Trump.”
The Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region is one of the main issues Moscow wishes to see resolved before a ceasefire can be agreed.
President Putin said Ukrainian forces there have two choices: “surrender or die.”
Putin also said he wanted to know more details about the nature of the 30-day ceasefire, and warned that it should not be used to allow Ukrainian forces to rearm and regroup for further combat.
In response to the press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin is “preparing a rejection.”
“Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, wants to kill Ukrainians.”
Putin set so many pre-conditions “that nothing will work out at all,” Zelensky added.
President Trump, meanwhile, said he would “love” to meet the Russian leader and that he hoped Russia would “do the right thing” and agree to a ceasefire.
He has also ruled out the possibility of Ukraine being allowed to join NATO, and said that he had agreed many of the specifics of a peace deal with Ukraine, including territory that would be ceded to Russia.
“We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement,” Trump said.
“A lot of the details of a final agreement have actually been discussed.”