Putin proposes Kostiantynivka ceasefire modelled on Oleshky evacuation

Putin proposed a ceasefire and joint humanitarian operation in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka on Thursday, telling US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow that Russian forces needed five days to clear mines from approaches to the town, Meduza and Rzeczpospolita reported.

Putin said about 400 to 500 civilians remained in Kostiantynivka and proposed modelling the operation on an evacuation mission carried out in Oleshky in late October, inviting Russian and foreign media, including American outlets, Meduza reported. He proposed handing the operation to the human rights ombudspeople of Russia and Ukraine, Yana Lantratova and Dmytro Lubinets.

Putin said Russian forces controlled Kostiantynivka and would guarantee security on the Russian side, adding that "if Kyiv believes it controls the city, it should ensure security on its side," according to Meduza. Ukrainian broadcaster 24 Kanal reported that Russian pro-war sources have continued to describe fighting in the town, despite Russian military commanders telling Putin in July that they had fully captured it.

Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to Ukraine's president on communications, said Russian forces could use a humanitarian operation in Kostiantynivka to move troops and equipment, 24 Kanal reported, adding that something similar had happened during the Oleshky truce in October. He said Ukraine first needed to establish the details of Russia's proposal.

The Oleshky operation, mediated in part by US first lady Melania Trump, halted fighting around the city for four days in late October, the longest truce of the full-scale war; several hundred people were evacuated and those who stayed received aid, Rzeczpospolita and Meduza reported. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces used that pause to rotate troops and bring in equipment, 24 Kanal reported, citing the Institute for the Study of War.

Putin's proposal came as Witkoff and Kushner met him at the Kremlin following two days of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, the first such trilateral talks since February, Rzeczpospolita reported. Putin repeated Russia's position that any foreign troops stationed in Ukraine would be unacceptable to Moscow, and said Russia and Ukraine had differing views on territorial questions.