Despite mounting international pressure, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unconvinced by a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, raising doubts over its implementation and purpose. While the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the plan last week, stating that “the ball is now in Russia’s court,” Putin has yet to commit, citing “nuances” that need to be addressed.

Putin has framed his skepticism around key concerns, questioning how the ceasefire period would be used. “Will Ukraine mobilize? Rearm? Train people? Or none of that? Then a question—how will that be controlled?” he asked, suggesting that Kyiv could exploit the truce to strengthen its military position rather than pursue genuine peace. He also demanded clarity on who would enforce the ceasefire and determine violations along the vast 2,000-km frontline.

A major sticking point for Moscow remains the western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an offensive last August. Putin insists that Russian troops have regained full control, while Ukraine’s military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, signaled that Ukrainian forces would maintain defensive positions there “as long as it is expedient and necessary.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin’s conditions, saying the Russian leader was deliberately setting so many pre-requisites “that nothing will work out at all.”

As the world watches to see if Russia will accept the ceasefire proposal, all eyes now turn to Tuesday’s scheduled conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has made it clear he wants a deal reached quickly.