"There are nuances": Putin suggested discussing a number of issues before talking about a truce in Ukraine

Russia agrees with the proposals of the United States and Ukraine to cease hostilities, but they must lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis. Vladimir Putin said this on March 13 at a joint press conference with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow. In the meantime, there are many nuances in the 30-day ceasefire initiative, one of which is the lack of any guarantees from the Russian Federation. For example, Ukraine may use a temporary truce to forcibly mobilize and supply weapons, so it is important to resolve the issue of how to control this, the Russian leader noted. Vladimir Putin admitted that he was ready to discuss these conditions directly with Donald Trump. The problems of resolving the Ukrainian crisis and the risks that the restoration of the Russian-American dialogue will affect relations between Moscow and Minsk are discussed in the Izvestia article.

Russia's position on the 30-day truce

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Moscow on March 13. The head of the republic's flight landed in Vnukovo at 10 a.m., where he was solemnly greeted by a guard of honor. This visit has an official status. Moreover, he became the first after the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko at the end of January. The head of the republic will stay in Moscow for several days: on March 14, he is preparing to address the Federation Council.

The main statements, which were expected not only by journalists in the Kremlin hall, but also by all the world's media, mainly concerned the Ukrainian settlement and the Russian Federation's response to Kiev and Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Vladimir Putin succinctly formulated the Russian position: "We are in favor, but there are nuances." He then listed a number of questions about how exactly they propose to organize this hypothetical truce.

— How will these 30 days be used? In order for forced mobilization to continue in Ukraine? In order for weapons to be supplied there? In order for newly mobilized units to be trained? Or will none of this be done? Then the question arises — how will the issues of control and verification be resolved? How will we be guaranteed that nothing like this will happen? How will the control be organized? I hope that everyone understands this at the level of common sense," the Russian president said.

It is also unclear how the situation on the contact line will be resolved.: who will give the orders for the cessation of hostilities and who will be responsible in case of non-fulfillment of this agreement? In general, Moscow supports the idea of a peaceful end to the conflict, "but there are many issues that need to be discussed," Vladimir Putin stressed. He added that he was ready to call Donald Trump.

Moscow will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," the Russian president stressed. However, Vladimir Putin thanked Donald Trump for his attention to resolving the situation in Ukraine. By the way, the American president actually reacted a couple of hours later: he called promising the words of the Russian president about the possibility of a cease-fire in Ukraine.

However, the best step in the world is the withdrawal of the enemy from our territory, refusal to join NATO, demilitarization and denazification, experts point out. In the meantime, the settlement initiatives that the United States and Ukraine have discussed are only their interests, which also raise reasonable concerns on the part of the Russian Federation.

— If Russia agrees to a truce, Kiev literally gets 30 days of respite, the opportunity to rearm, replenish personnel, replenish ammunition and UAV stocks, as well as time to plan and prepare new operations against Russia. With the current Ukrainian leadership, Moscow cannot be completely sure that tomorrow, under conditions more favorable for Kiev and the West, fighting will not resume in some areas," Tigran Meloyan, an analyst at the HSE Center for Mediterranean Studies, told Izvestia.

In addition, Kiev later voiced its "red lines" to Washington, according to the Ukrainian edition of European Truth. "There can be no restrictions on the size of the army, and there can be no prohibitions on Ukraine's participation [in international organizations], including in the European Union and NATO," her interlocutor said.

How will a possible truce affect the situation in the Kursk region

The situation on the line of contact is rapidly changing in Russia's favor, Vladimir Putin stressed. Earlier, Suji's release was announced. But it is obviously beneficial for Ukraine to achieve a truce for 30 days against the background of the fact that all its military personnel in the Kursk region are blocked.

— What are we going to do with this site in the Kursk region? If we stop fighting for 30 days, what does that mean? That everyone who is there will come out without a fight? Should we let them out after they committed a lot of crimes against civilians? Or will the Ukrainian leadership give them the command to lay down their arms? Just surrender. How will it be? It's unclear," the head of state asked.

Currently, the situation in the Kursk border area is fully controlled by the Russian military: the AFU group that invaded the region is isolated and it is becoming impossible to break out of the encirclement. According to the president, the Ukrainian military is "trying to get out of there in small groups of two or three people," because everything is under full fire control. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces are physically blocked in the Kursk region in the coming days, no one will be able to leave at all: "there will only be two ways — to surrender or to die," stated Vladimir Putin.

— We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities. But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long—term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," he concluded.

Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that Belarus and Russia have a common position on the Ukrainian settlement. At the same time, the Ukrainians should have stopped firing long ago. According to him, the fate of the whole of Europe is currently in the negotiation process between Russia and the United States.

— You know, again, I'm sorry, the prophecy is that if Russia comes to an agreement with the United States, Europe and Ukraine will be served together, — said the President of Belarus.

Vladimir Putin appreciated such a vivid passage from his colleague and made a small correction: if the Russian Federation and the United States agree, in particular, on cooperation in the field of energy, then Europe can be provided with a "gas pipe", which, of course, will only benefit Europe, since it will receive cheap Russian gas.

The economy of the Russian Federation and Belarus in the context of sanctions

In addition to the Ukrainian crisis, journalists were also concerned about the fate of Russia's trade relations with Belarus, as Western brands that had previously left Russia seemed to be about to return to the market. Indeed, the Russian Federation is already negotiating behind closed doors with some Western companies about a possible return, Vladimir Putin noted. However, there will be no preferences for them. Moreover, Russia will continue to pursue technological sovereignty regardless of its relations with the United States.

"The pressure on Belarus and Russia is not easing, although it is already clear to everyone that these restrictions are hitting those countries that introduced them," Alexander Lukashenko said.

In the open part of the talks, the leaders focused on the bilateral agenda of the meeting. According to Vladimir Putin, the economic situation is currently developing in the best possible way, even despite all the external difficulties. Thus, the trade turnover grew by 5.7% and reached a record level of more than $50 billion. At the same time, over 90% of payments in commercial transactions between Russia and Belarus are in national currencies.

— Everything that we undertake, we solve thoroughly, such as import substitution, countering sanctions, — said Alexander Lukashenko.

Andrei Kopyt, head of the Belarusian Supreme Coordinating Council of the Union of Legal Entities Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship, told Izvestia that future talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are also likely to "push for the easing or lifting of sanctions against both Belarus and the Union state."

Following the negotiations, the parties signed a solid package of interstate and interdepartmental documents. In particular, the leaders signed the protocol on amendments to the Russian-Belarusian treaty on Equal Rights of Citizens of December 25, 1998, as well as the protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and Belarus on security Guarantees within the framework of the Union State.

Vladimir Putin announced that the agreement on mutual security between Russia and Belarus has now officially entered into force. Dmitry Mezentsev, State Secretary of the Union State, noted in an interview with Izvestia: the launch of this treaty demonstrates the unity of approaches of the two states in assessing the situation both in the Eastern European region and on the entire continent in the context of existing threats.

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko also signed a joint statement. According to him, Russia and Belarus will continue to counteract NATO, including in the military sphere, if necessary. The heads of state consider the actions of the alliance in the context of the Ukrainian crisis to be hostile, destabilizing and capable of provoking a nuclear conflict.