Vladimir Putin has hinted that he supports a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine – with a giant caveat.
Russia’s president and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko are delivering a joint news conference as they meet in Moscow – concerning the two countries’ ‘friendship’, about ‘hostile and destabilising’ Nato and the war in Ukraine.
He agreed with US proposals to stop fighting, but said he needs to talk with Donald Trump first.
‘We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities,’ the leader told reporters.
‘But we proceed from the proven fact that this cessation must be such that it will result in long-term peace and would eliminate the unique causes of this crisis.’
He added later: ‘The thought itself is correct, and we definitely support it. But there are issues that we’d like to debate.
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‘And I believe we’d like to refer to our American colleagues as well. Possibly I should call president Trump and have a discussion with him. We support the concept of ending this conflict by peaceful means.’
But Russia and the US have yet to agree on a possible phone call between the 2 leaders, a Kremlin aide said.
One in all the announcements, made throughout the conference also focused on ‘amendments’ on the equal rights of residents of Russia and Belarus.
This allowed Russian and Belarusian residents stand in local elections in each countries – a possible test run for deeper political integration.
‘Residents of Russia and Belarus will have the option to take part in local elections in each countries,’ Putin told reporters.
That is one more sign of Putin’s persisting takeover of the neighbouring nation.
Lukashenko and Putin announced ‘the mutual security treaty between Russia and Belarus entered into force today’ and jointly accused Nato of ‘destabilising’ and ‘hostile’ actions in Ukraine.
Putin said he has discussed with Lukashenko ‘quite a lot of questions on creating a standard defence area’ and says Russian military is placed in Belarus.
He stressed: ‘We now have tactical nuclear weapons and defence systems protecting security, protecting the western border of our states.’
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