From the transcript of the press conference of the president of the Russian Federation W.W. Putin and the president of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenka, Moscow, March 13, 2025.
Vladimir Putin: "We agree with the proposals to end war, but we believe that this cessation must lead to long-term peace and remove the root causes of this crisis.
Now on Ukraine's readiness to cease war. An American-Ukrainian gathering in Saudi Arabia may look like a Ukrainian organization decision under American pressure. In fact, I am absolutely convinced that the Ukrainian side should have asked the Americans to do so as a substance of urgency, given the situation on the ground, as has been said here.
How's that working out? I'm certain quite a few people noticed and saw that yesterday I was in the Kursk Oblast and listened to the reports of the Chief of General Staff, the North Group commander and his deputy on the situation in the border area, primarily in the Kursk Oblast, or alternatively in the Kursk Oblast.
What's going on out there? The situation is under our complete control, and the group that attacked our territory is isolated. It's complete insulation and full fire control. The command of Ukrainian troops inside this invasion region has been lost. And if in the first stages, just a week or 2 ago, Ukrainian soldiers tried to get out of there in tiny groups, now it is impossible. They effort to go out in tiny groups – 2 or 3 people each – due to the fact that everything is under our full fire control.
The equipment is completely abandoned, can't get out, stays there, it's already guaranteed. And if there's a physical blockade in the next fewer days, no 1 will be able to get out. There will be only 2 options: surrender or die. And under these circumstances, I think it would be very good for the Ukrainian side if there were a ceasefire for at least 30 days. We're in favor, but there are any details. What are they like?
First. What are we gonna do about this episode of trespassing in the Kursk Oblast? If we halt the war for 30 days, what does that mean? That everyone who's out there will leave without a fight? Should we release them from there after they committed a mass of crimes against the civilian population? Or will Ukrainian leadership give them orders to surrender their weapons, just surrender? What's it gonna be? It's not clear.
And how will another issues be resolved throughout the front line? And that's almost 2,000 kilometers. And there, as we know, Russian troops are approaching practically all directions. There are besides created conditions to block the full rather large units.
So how will these 30 days be used? To proceed forced mobilization in Ukraine? To deliver weapons there? To train recently mobilized units? Will no of this be done?
Then the question arises: how will control, verification be solved? How can we and how can we be guaranteed that nothing like this will happen? How will the control be organized? I hope that this is clear at the level of common sense. These are all serious questions.
And who will give orders to halt the fight? And what is the price of these orders? You can imagine – almost 2,000 kilometres! Who will find where and who violated a possible ceasefire agreement over 2,000 kilometres? And then who will “put the blame” on whom for violating this agreement? All these questions require laborious investigation on both sides.
The thought in itself is so right and we surely support it, but there are issues we request to discuss.
I think we request to talk about this with our American colleagues and partners, or possibly even call president Trump and discuss it with him. But we support the thought of a peaceful end to this conflict."
Text behind the Russian Embassy in Poland.
