Sources from Moscow indicate that Russia is open to negotiating a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, provided there is tangible progress toward a final peace settlement. This development comes as the United States and Ukraine prepare for talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, March 11.
According to Bloomberg, President Vladimir Putin’s first sign of a positive response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for a ceasefire was relayed during high-level discussions last month in Saudi Arabia between Russian and American officials.
Russia’s Conditions for a Ceasefire
To halt hostilities, Russia insists on a clear understanding of the framework for a final peace agreement, sources familiar with the matter revealed. A key condition includes defining the parameters of a potential peacekeeping mission, particularly which countries would be involved in overseeing its implementation.
The latest details have emerged as the U.S. and Ukraine plan to hold direct talks in Saudi Arabia, marking their first formal meeting since last week’s tense Oval Office encounter between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witcoff stated that the meeting’s goal is to establish “a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire.”
Russia Rejects NATO Troops in Ukraine
Russia has firmly opposed the presence of NATO forces on Ukrainian soil, rejecting proposals from European nations to form a coalition to oversee a peace agreement. However, Russia has indicated no objections to neutral countries such as China deploying troops in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
Moscow Opposes EU Troop Deployment
Given that European leaders strongly reaffirmed their commitment to stand by Ukraine during the recent EU defense summit in Brussels it comes as no surprise that Russia also strongly objects to any deployment of European forces in Ukraine. Mikhail Ulyanov, Moscow’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, reiterated this stance via Telegram, citing the lack of neutrality on the part of the EU.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also echoed these concerns, noting that the EU is actively discussing its militarization and defense expansion. “This is a process we are closely monitoring, as the EU is positioning Russia as its primary adversary,” Peskov told reporters.
