Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding a pause in arms deliveries to Ukraine as a key condition for agreeing to a ceasefire, according to a Bloomberg report published on March 18, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed 30-day truce is expected to be discussed in a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, scheduled between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Moscow time, confirmed Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Putin’s position was reportedly shared during a meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff last week and reaffirms the Kremlin’s long-standing insistence that peace talks must be accompanied by concrete security guarantees — this time, in the form of a suspension of Western weapons transfers to Ukraine.
Kremlin Pushes for a "Conditional Ceasefire"
According to a senior European official and three Moscow-based sources, Russia is open to the idea of a temporary ceasefire — but only if Western military aid to Ukraine is frozen for the duration.
Putin is said to have agreed in principle to Trump’s ceasefire proposal, though his support hinges on halting arms deliveries. The Russian leader reportedly sees this as a precondition for trust-building, while still allowing the possibility of future negotiations toward a broader peace agreement.
Sources added that weapons deliveries would resume after the truce, but under a new framework limiting Ukraine’s military capabilities — a clause that is expected to meet resistance in Kyiv and across Europe.
European leaders have so far shown reluctance to back Putin’s demand, warning it could leave Ukraine dangerously exposed and give Moscow time to regroup and rearm.
“It’s a temporary ceasefire with permanent consequences if Russia exploits the pause,” one European official told Bloomberg.
Despite these concerns, the U.S. appears to be testing the waters diplomatically. Trump has reportedly offered to meet with Putin in person to further discuss the proposal, positioning it as a first step toward a more comprehensive deal.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 17 that President Trump remains prepared to impose new sanctions on Russia if necessary, signaling that U.S. support for Ukraine — and pressure on Moscow — hasn’t disappeared from the table, even amid calls for peace.
