Putin Is Carefully Studying Proposed Ukraine Cease-Fire

As recently as January, President Vladimir V.Putin of Russia emphatically rejected the idea of a temporary cease-fire in Ukraine.But after a month in which President Trump turned American foreign policy on its head and Russian forces made progress in a key battle, the Kremlin now appears keen at least to entertain the 30-day cease-fire proposal made by Ukraine and the United States on Tuesday.Dmitri S.

Peskov, Mr.Putin’s spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday that the Kremlin was “carefully studying” the outcome of Tuesday’s talks between the United States and Ukraine, and their call for a monthlong cease-fire.He said he expected the United States to inform Russia in the coming days of “the details of the negotiations that took place and the understandings that were reached.” He raised the possibility of another phone call between Mr.

Putin and Mr.Trump, signaling that the Kremlin saw the cease-fire proposal as just a part of a broader flurry of diplomacy.Mr.

Putin has seen a dizzying reversal in his geopolitical fortunes over the last month as Mr.Trump realigned American foreign policy in Russia’s favor, antagonized U.S.

allies and excoriated President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the White House.But the emergence of a joint cease-fire proposal from the United States and Ukraine complicates things for Mr.Putin.

It deepens the tension between his desires for a far-reaching victory in Ukraine and for close ties with Mr.Trump.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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