Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicated Tuesday that Russia has not abandoned hope for a ceasefire in Ukraine, despite skepticism about securing major concessions from Kyiv and its Western backers.

Speaking to state broadcaster Russia-1, Ushakov said, “We are not losing hope,” framing the comment as Moscow awaits further details on a U.S.-proposed 30-day truce following Ukraine’s acceptance during talks in Saudi Arabia last week.

The statement follows Putin’s March 13 remarks, where he endorsed the ceasefire “in principle” but tied it to stringent conditions—Ukraine halting mobilization, Western arms supplies ceasing, and addressing Russia’s “root causes,” including NATO’s eastward expansion and control over annexed regions like Donetsk and Crimea.

Ushakov’s cautious optimism contrasts with his earlier dismissal of the truce as a mere “reprieve” for Ukraine, suggesting Russia seeks a comprehensive deal over a temporary pause. “We strive for a long-term peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country,” he reiterated, echoing Putin’s maximalist stance.

This comes as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin late Thursday in Moscow, stretching into Friday, to push Trump’s peace initiative—a plan the White House calls a stepping stone to broader talks. Trump, after briefing NATO’s Mark Rutte on Monday, labeled Putin’s response “promising but incomplete,” hinting at a potential call.

Yet, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Putin of stalling, saying he’s “afraid to admit he wants to continue this war” while framing conditions to delay progress.

Russia’s battlefield gains—reclaiming most of Kursk from Ukraine’s August incursion, per General Valery Gerasimov’s Wednesday report—bolster its leverage, complicating negotiations.