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Putin is thought to demand massive concessions (Image: Getty)
could “hold hostage” the US ceasefire proposal that has agreed to so that can extract concessions before formal talks to end the war have even started, experts have warned. The Kremlin may also “demand a halt to weapons supplies to to as a condition of agreeing to the temporary ceasefire”, a source close to the Kremlin has reportedly said. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note they did not specify if this would include all international weapons provisions to , or only those from select countries.
Suspending US or other military assistance to ‘s troops during a ceasefire would be “extremely advantageous” to ” , it added. This is because continues to receive critical supplies and assistance from Iran, North Korea, and China. “Such an enormous concession would also destroy US leverage in future negotiations, in addition to violating the conditions under which agreed to the ceasefire in the first place,” the ISW added.
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Another Ukraine drone attack overnight
claims to have downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight.
This comes after the largest attack since the war began was carried out by Volodymyr Zelesnky’s forced earlier this week.
Last night, Russian officials claim, 30 drones were intercepted and destroyed over the Bryansk border region, and 25 more were downed over Kaluga.
Other drones were downed over the Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Belgorod regions, officials added.
US negotiators on their way to Moscow
said yesterday that US negotiators were headed to “right now” for talks on a possible ceasefire.
has agreed to a 30-day truce.
The President didn’t give any more details, but the White House confirmed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was going to be in Moscow later this week.
Kursk fighting ‘in final stage’
The Kremlin has claimed that fighting in ‘s Kursk region is in its ‘final stages’.
Putin’s troops are attempting to eject Ukrainian forces over the border.
Yesterday, the Russian President visited the region in military fatigues.
Putin visited the Kursk region yesterday (Image: Getty)
Ceasefire proposal ‘separate’ from peace talks
The ISW notes senior US and Ukrainian officials have said that the purpose of the temporary ceasefire is for and to “demonstrate their willingness for peace and that the temporary ceasefire and negotiations to end the war are separate matters”.
Although, the Kremlin “may intend to conjoin them”.
‘s Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on March 11 after talks in Jeddah that the best goodwill gesture can give would be to accept the ceasefire proposal.
If says no, he added, “then we’ll know the impediment to peace”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Image: Getty)
Kremlin will ‘demand impossible conditions’
Russian opposition outlet Verstka reported yesterday that a source close to Putin’s administration stated that the Kremlin would “formally” give a “positive response” to the temporary ceasefire proposal but would also demand “impossible conditions” to which cannot agree.
The ISW added that Putin wants to “remove from talks so that can engage in negotiations with the United States alone while also ‘correcting the situation on the front’ to strengthen ‘s negotiating position.”
It then wrote: “A Kremlin source added that the conditions of the temporary ceasefire ‘must suit ‘ and that ‘s agreement to a temporary ceasefire during which continues to receive weapons and financing from its partners and allies is ‘stupid’.”
Putin visited Kursk in military fatigues yesterday (Image: Getty)
Welcome to our live blog
Welcome to our live blog as the US presents its ceasefire proposal to the Kremlin.
Talks were held between officials from ‘s administration and on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.
It is hoped the arrangement will stop the fighting, at least temporarily.