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Vladimir Putin is showing no sign of bowing to pressure to accept Washington's ceasefire proposal, with leading voices in the Kremlin warning the Russian dictator that it will only serve to benefit Ukraine.

Putin aide Yuri Ushakov expressed his opposition to the proposed US deal, saying that it would give breathing space to Ukrainian forces at a time when Moscow is close to fully retaking territory in its Kursk region from Kyiv's forces.

Discussing the ceasefire proposal, Ushakov said in a TV interview: 'I have stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more.'

Ushakov, who previously served as Moscow's ambassador to the US, added dismissively: 'It seems to me that no one needs any steps that (merely) imitate peaceful actions in this situation.'

His comments came as Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff landed in Moscow this morning to try to convince Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to earlier this week in crunch talks with the US. 

In another sign that an agreement remains a distant prospect, Putin mouthpieces have warned that the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine would amount to a 'direct armed conflict' with Moscow, and that it would respond to such a move by 'all available means'.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... 0&ito=1490

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he supports the idea of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine in principle but noted that its implementation raises many questions, particularly regarding verification across a long front line.

He added that these issues would need to be discussed with the United States, “perhaps” in a phone call with President Donald Trump, whom he thanked for paying “so much attention” to the Ukraine negotiations.

“The idea itself is the right one, and we certainly support it, but there are issues that need to be discussed,” Putin said at a news conference Thursday.

Putin signaled that Moscow would seek to impose its own conditions on the framework of the ceasefire, such as prohibiting Ukraine from receiving Western weapons, continuing mobilization or training new troops.

“How will we be guaranteed that nothing like this will happen? How will control be carried out? These are serious questions. Who will give the order to cease hostilities?” Putin said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... LW5GGEJ5UQ

Very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday