Putin's Condition for Truce: "Stop Arms Supplies to Kiev"

Vladimir Putin, as a condition for the ceasefire proposed by Donald Trump, is demanding that the US president suspend all arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Bloomberg reports this, citing people familiar with the matter, a few hours after the expected phone call between the two leaders. The Russian president would like to stop all arms deliveries to Kiev, but his minimum goal is to suspend military aid at least from the United States.

For Putin, stopping the supply of weapons is an essential prerequisite for signing the ceasefire. Europe, according to a senior official, is reluctant to accept Moscow's request because it could create a situation in which Russia could rearm during the cessation of hostilities, while Ukraine would be prevented from doing so.

(Unioneonline/L)