Putin and Lukashenko jokes about Europe being 'done for' on energy / Russia, US 'yet to agree' on presidential phone call, not expected today

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/mar/13/ukraine-war-live-blog-updates-ceasefire-russia-trump-zelenskyy-putin-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-67d2f9568f0835779975062a#top-of-blog

 

16.04 CET

Russia, US 'yet to agree' on presidential phone call, not expected today

Russia and the United States have yet to agree on a possible phone call between president Vladimir Putin and president Donald Trump, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported.

 

It cited Ushakov as saying that the Kremlin did not expect Putin to talk to Trump on Thursday.

 

This comes hours after the Kremlin said that “may have an international phone call later” on Thursday.

 

6m ago

16.13 GMT

Putin's comments on Ukraine and US ceasefire proposals - summary

• Russian president Vladimir Putin has said that Russia was technically "in favour” of the proposed ceasefire on Ukraine, but heavily caveated that with “nuances” and “serious issues” that need to be resolved before the proposal can be progressed further.
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• During the press conference with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko:
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• Putin said that the ceasefire should “lead to an enduring peace, and remove the root causes of this crisis,” which could suggest Russia’s maximalist demands towards Ukraine and the US on broader security environment in eastern Europe.
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• He lauded Russian troops for “advancing in practically all areas of the contact line,” and pointed out that the ceasefire must not be used to rearm Ukrainians to mobilise more troops and rearm for further confrontation.
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• He further listed a number of practical issues, including on resolving the Ukrainian “incursion” in Russia’s Kursk region and on monitoring any violations.
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• He suggested that he would need to negotiate outstanding issues “with our American colleagues and partners,” suggesting “maybe a phone call with President Trump.”
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16m ago

16.03 GMT

Putin also goes back to his Kursk visit yesterday noting progress made by Russian troops there, as says that next steps on ceasefire will be decided “depending on how the situation on the ground will develop.”

 

20m ago

11.59 EDT

Putin and Lukashenko jokes about Europe being 'done for' on energy

It appears that the two has now turned to jokes.

 

Putin says:

 

I want to add to what Mr Lukashenko said about Europe being done for if Russia and America agree.

 

Yes, indeed, if Russia and America agree to cooperate on energy, and this is, this is a pun, because a pipeline in Russian means also being done for, so this will be to Europe’s benefit, because they will get cheap Russian gas. So they will have a pipeline.

 

(The audience laughs at this point.)

 

“That’s what I meant,” says Lukashenko

 

“Yes, that’s what I thought you did,” adds Putin.

 

23m ago

15.56 GMT

If Russia and US agree, 'Ukraine and Europe will be done for,' Lukashenko says

… and yet he adds to that.

 

Lukashenko says:

 

If Russia agrees with the United States, Ukraine and Europe will be done for.

 

The negotiating process between America and Russia holds Europe’s fate in their hands, even though it is behaving in a shortsighted manner in the media, at least.

 

And again, they’re not going to dupe us. We know our interests. We know our goals.

 

26m ago

11.53 EDT

I am sure you will be shocked to hear to that, but Lukashenko intervenes at this point to say that he agrees with Putin.

 

Vladimir Vladimirovich has said more than he was asked to, and he has looked into the future and maybe even disclosed some of the talking points for the upcoming meeting with the American representatives.

 

It is difficult to add anything to that.