Putin Overlooks 1 Key Detail As He Claims ‘Root Causes’ Of Ukraine War Must Be Addressed

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war, but with a significant caveat: he insists that the “root causes” of the conflict must be addressed.

Putin’s comments, made during a joint press conference with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, suggest that he believes the war stems from issues such as his unfounded claims that Ukraine is governed by a neo-Nazi regime and its alignment with Western powers.

However, critics argue that Putin has overlooked the most obvious root cause of the conflict—his decision to order the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which was widely condemned as an unprovoked act of aggression.

The US has been pushing for a temporary ceasefire as part of broader peace negotiations, and Ukraine has already signaled its willingness to agree to such a pause.

However, Putin’s response indicates that any ceasefire would need to align with his terms, including addressing his grievances about Ukraine’s political direction and its ties to the West. He also suggested that progress in peace talks would depend on the situation on the ground, particularly in Kursk, the only Russian region Ukraine has seized during the war.

Putin’s remarks come amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has urged the Russian leader to back the ceasefire or face severe economic consequences.

Trump warned that he could impose financial measures that would be “very bad for Russia,” but emphasized that his goal is to achieve peace. Despite this, Putin’s top foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, dismissed the ceasefire proposal earlier in the day, describing it as merely a “temporary breather for Ukrainian troops.”

Many of Ukraine’s Western allies have pointed out that the war could end immediately if Putin were to withdraw his troops from Ukrainian territory.

However, Putin’s insistence on addressing the so-called “root causes” of the conflict suggests that he is unwilling to concede ground without securing significant political and territorial concessions. As the war enters its fourth year, the prospect of a lasting peace remains uncertain, with Putin’s conditions likely to complicate any potential resolution.