Bloomberg: Putin conveyed conditions to the USA for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

Russia is ready to discuss a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine on the condition of progress towards a final peace settlement.

Sources in Moscow reported this. According to informed individuals, this proposal was conveyed during negotiations in Saudi Arabia last month between senior Russian and American officials. This is the first signal of a positive response from President Vladimir Putin to the call from his American counterpart Donald Trump for a ceasefire.

For the agreement to cease hostilities, a clear understanding of the framework principles of a final peace agreement is necessary, said two individuals familiar with the situation. Russia will insist on establishing the parameters of a possible peacekeeping mission, including the agreement on participating countries, added another informed source.

The information emerged against the backdrop of preparations by the USA and Ukraine for a meeting in Saudi Arabia next week. This will be the first direct negotiations following the conflict between Trump and President Vladimir Zelensky at the White House. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the meeting is aimed at achieving 'frameworks for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not respond to a request for comment.

Russia has stated that it will not accept the presence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory, rejecting a proposal from European countries to create a 'coalition of the willing' to monitor the peace agreement. According to sources, Moscow does not oppose the deployment of forces from countries that supposedly maintained neutrality in the conflict, such as China.

Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has dramatically changed US policy regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, seeking to quickly end a three-year war – the most serious conflict in Europe in the last 80 years.

Negotiations and Conflict

Last month, Trump conducted phone negotiations with Putin, and the parties agreed to hold a summit, although a specific date has not yet been set. The American president has abandoned support for Ukraine's potential NATO membership, and his senior officials have stated that the return of all Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia since 2014 is unrealistic.

After the confrontation with Zelensky at the White House, Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine and restricted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, shocking European allies who believe that the USA risks rewarding Russia for the aggression that began in February 2022.

Putin has repeatedly rejected Trump's calls for a quick end to the war. At an annual press conference in December, he stated: 'We do not need a truce – we need peace: long-term, stable, with guarantees for the Russian Federation and its citizens.'

Rejection of the Plan

On Thursday, Russia rejected the Franco-British plan for a partial month-long ceasefire covering air and maritime operations, including the cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure.

Recall that Trump has spoken about large-scale sanctions against the Russian Federation until a ceasefire is achieved in Ukraine.