Putin on a ceasefire in Ukraine, Western companies and gas
MOSCOW, March 13 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine but that any ceasefire would have to deal with the root causes of the conflict and that many details needed to be sorted out.
The following are Putin's key quotes translated by Reuters reporters from Russian.
ON THE CEASEFIRE DEAL
"We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities. But we proceed from the fact that the cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis."
"The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But there are issues that we need to discuss. And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well. Maybe I should call President Trump and have a discussion with him. But we support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means."
ON THE RISKS OF UKRAINE RE-ARMING:
"Russian troops are advancing in almost all areas of the front... So how will these 30 days be used? For forced mobilisation to continue in Ukraine, for weapons to be delivered there, for the newly-mobilised units to be trained?... How can we and how will we be guaranteed that nothing like that will happen? How will control be organised?
"These are all serious questions. Who will give orders to stop hostilities?... Who will determine where and who has violated a possible ceasefire agreement for 2,000 kilometres?
ON THE POSSIBLE RETURN OF WESTERN COMPANIES TO RUSSIA:
"We did not close ourselves off from anyone and did not expel anyone. To those (companies) who want to return, we say: Welcome, welcome at any moment." (Putin used the English word welcome)
"But naturally we will proceed from the situation that has developed to date. If niches are occupied, then, accordingly, they are occupied. We will not create any preferences for anyone to return to our market."
ON ENERGY COOPERATION:
"If, say, the U.S. and Russia agree on energy cooperation, a gas pipeline for Europe can be secured. And this will benefit Europe, because it will receive cheap Russian gas."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
AP PHOTOS: Portugal beats Spain to win the Nations League
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
US-Immigration-Raids-Los Angeles-Photo-Gallery
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
National Guard deployed to L.A. and Trump warns Musk of 'consequences': Weekend Rundown
President Donald Trump moved to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass after immigration raids in the city led to protests and disorder. Approximately 300 National Guard members descended on Los Angeles on Sunday morning after the president ordered the deployment of 2,000 troops, a move sharply criticized as inflammatory and unnecessary by Newsom and a 'chaotic escalation' by Bass, who warned that an 'extreme presence of troops or law enforcement officers' could stoke 'massive civil unrest.' Tom Homan, Trump's appointed border czar, told NBC News that Newsom and Bass had created 'a sanctuary for criminals' and suggested the governor and mayor could be arrested if they impeded law enforcement. 'I'll say about anybody,' Homan said, 'it's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.' Homan said 'around 150' undocumented immigrants had been detained in the last two days as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers carried out large-scale sweep across the city. 'Meet the Press' In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said he would not accept campaign donations from Elon Musk, but urged the former Trump adviser to 'get involved right now in a more substantive way' in Democrats' push against the sweeping GOP-backed spending bill. Booker's remarks come as other Democrats have floated welcoming Musk into the Democratic Party after a feud between President Donald Trump and the tech mogul exploded into public view last week. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., also joined moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday, defending Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles as demonstrators protest federal immigration raids. 'He's trying to de-escalate all the tensions that are there,' Lankford said. 'This is an American city, and to be able to have an American city where we have people literally flying Mexican flags and saying, 'You cannot arrest us,' cannot be allowed.' Notable quote President Donald Trump if tech mogul Elon Musk funds candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of his sweeping budget bill, after a breakdown in relations between the two. Trump's comments were the most extensive since he and Musk exchanged threats and attacks on X and Truth Social earlier this week. He added that he thought the Republican Party was more unified than ever after the two men fell out in front of the world. Politics in brief Back in the USA: Trump told NBC News that it wasn't his decision to bring mistakenly deported Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. to face federal charges, but said he believes it will be a 'very easy case.' Abrego Garcia's case has raised a number of questions, including what the political fallout will be. Lines redrawn: Democrats are making gains in wealthier, whiter and more educated areas as Republicans make inroads with Hispanic and white working-class voters, an analysis of election data shows. Treatment halted: Trump's travel ban has stalled lifesaving treatment for Haitian children who need to travel for surgery. A U.S. doctor who has operated on Haitian children is pleading for the administration to make a humanitarian exception to the ban. Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz crowned French Open champions The No. 2 seeds for both the men's and women's finals at Roland-Garros came out on top this year. In three sets, Coco Gauff became the first American women to win the French open since Serena Williams in 2015, outlasting top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 victory. 'The crowd really helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard, and I don't know what I did to deserve so much love from the French crowd,' Gauff said. 'But I appreciate you guys.' In the men's final, Carlos Alcaraz produced one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the clay-court tournament. The defending champion made a stunning comeback from two sets down, winning a fifth-set tiebreaker to beat No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) to retain his French Open title for a second-straight year. It was the longest-ever French Open final — 5 hours, 29 minutes — in the Open Era. Broadway salutes a night of A-listers 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo, a Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning actress and singer, is slated to host the 78th annual Tony Awards, which this year return to New York City's Radio City Music Hall. There are 29 shows on Broadway that received nominations this season, with tight competition in many categories, and the acting categories are stacked with Hollywood stars, including George Clooney and Sarah Snook. In case you missed it Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is fighting for his life after he was shot three times during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. A Cantonese opera inspired by Trump has debuted its latest edition, riffing on the president's infamous White House sparring match with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to block an aid vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza, by 'any means necessary.' Did you know you are more likely to be struck by lightning than the Pacers were to win their playoff comebacks? These stats back up that claim. A U.S. marshal was mistakenly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Arizona because he 'fit the general description of a subject being sought by ICE,' officials said. A Seattle man was charged in connection with a series of robberies and burglaries of current and former professional athletes, with alleged victims including Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, center fielder Julio Rodriguez and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell. Just how much damage did Ukraine do in its 'Spiderweb' drone attack on Russia? NBC News has analyzed satellite imagery to dig into the claims being made by Kyiv and Moscow.
