The initiative could follow a similar arrangement that reportedly enabled civilians to leave the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southeastern Ukraine last month
By Njoku Vincent
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Moscow will not compromise on its core objectives in the war against Ukraine but has proposed a temporary ceasefire in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka to facilitate a humanitarian operation.
Putin made the proposal on Thursday during a meeting at the Kremlin with United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
The Russian leader reportedly proposed a joint Russian-Ukrainian humanitarian mission to Kostiantynivka, which has witnessed intense fighting, to allow civilians to leave and humanitarian assistance to reach those who remain.
Putin said Russia would require five days to clear mines from the area around the city to make the operation possible.
He suggested that the initiative could follow a similar arrangement that reportedly enabled civilians to leave the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southeastern Ukraine last month, while allowing humanitarian supplies to be delivered to residents who stayed behind.
US Envoys Push for Wider Peace Talks
The meeting came after Kushner and Witkoff spent two days in Abu Dhabi participating in negotiations aimed at finding a way to end the war, Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
The American envoys reportedly urged Putin to allow European representatives to participate in the next round of negotiations.
Witkoff also confirmed that a prisoner exchange had been agreed upon during the latest discussions in Abu Dhabi, describing the development as an indication of progress towards peace.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and several European leaders have cautioned against any agreement that could divide the continent into competing spheres of influence, drawing comparisons with the 1945 Yalta Conference, when Allied powers agreed on arrangements that shaped post-war Europe.
They have insisted that negotiations should prioritise ending the war rather than reaching a new geopolitical settlement over European territories.
Kushner and Witkoff were expected to travel to Dublin later on Thursday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a European summit.
Putin Rejects Demilitarised Zones, Foreign Peacekeepers
During the Kremlin meeting, Putin also dismissed proposals for a territorial arrangement involving so-called grey or demilitarised zones between Russian and Ukrainian positions.
He maintained that Russia recognised only the state border as the basis for demarcation.
“For us, there is only one line of demarcation: the state border. Because then it will be clear: here are we, and here are you,” Putin was quoted as saying.
The Russian president also renewed his opposition to deploying foreign troops to Ukraine as part of any post-war peacekeeping arrangement.
He warned that Moscow would regard foreign forces stationed in Ukraine as legitimate military targets, arguing that their presence would prolong the conflict rather than guarantee lasting peace.
Putin described the proposed deployment as a “vicious circle” that could lead to the continuation of hostilities.
Russia Says Trust Yet to Be Restored
Separately, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said it was premature to discuss rebuilding trust between the parties despite what he described as undeniable progress in the US-mediated negotiations.
Speaking to Russian broadcaster RT, Ryabkov said the issue of restoring trust was not how Moscow currently viewed the negotiations.
He, however, expressed optimism that the discussions held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi could produce a workable framework for further engagement if sufficient political will existed.
The latest diplomatic engagements have raised fresh hopes of progress towards ending the war, although major disagreements remain over territorial control, security guarantees and the possible deployment of foreign forces in Ukraine.