Putin ready for ceasefire: what's the catch?
Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he is ready for a ceasefire, Russian sources told the Reuters news agency.
According to Reuters, Putin is said to be ready for a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine and recognition of the current front lines. Sources at Reuters report some frustration with the Russian president because, according to him, the West is blocking all attempts at negotiations.
If there is no response from the Western camp, Russia can just fight on, according to a Reuters source within Putin's entourage.
But isn't there a catch then? According to the news agency's sources, Putin says Russia has made enough gains in the conflict to "sell" the war as a victory to the Russian people. Continuing the war would require another major mobilisation and that would go down far less well with the Russian people ... and with Putin.
(Fausto by Tagtik/Source: Reuters, De Standaard/Illustration picture: Pixabay)
