Putin proposes another local ceasefire, Ukraine is wary

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with US officials, has proposed applying a local ceasefire and implementing a humanitarian operation in the city of…

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with US officials, has proposed applying a local ceasefire and implementing a humanitarian operation in the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine. A similar approach had previously been implemented in another southern Ukrainian city.

Putin met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, in Moscow on Thursday. These discussions follow peace talks they held in the United Arab Emirates with senior officials from Ukraine and Russia.

During Thursday's meeting, Putin proposed implementing a local ceasefire and a humanitarian operation in Kostiantynivka in the eastern region of Donetsk, as had been done in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky from late October through November 1.

In July 2026, the Russian side claimed that it had taken control of Kostiantynivka. But Ukraine denied the claim, and fierce fighting is believed to be continuing there.

After the meeting, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that the US negotiators backed Putin's proposal.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is growing wary, suspecting that Russia may reorganize its military forces under the guise of the humanitarian operation.

Ukrainian media outlets reported comments by the Ukrainian president's advisor, Dmytro Lytvyn, on the proposal. He said it is clear what Russia wants, given that Russia replaced its troops under the cover of the humanitarian operation in Oleshky.

The US negotiators, Witkoff and Kushner, also spoke to reporters after the meeting with Putin.

Referring to the largest prisoner swap to date between Russia and Ukraine, which was agreed on during the three-way talks in the UAE, Witkoff said that the final arrangements are to be completed in short order. Witkoff also said, "The Europeans will join at the next meeting, which we think is a very big deal." But he did not elaborate on details, such as which countries would participate and in what capacity.

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