France, March 14 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautiously welcomed the United States' ceasefire proposal for Ukraine, but his insistence on addressing key Russian demands before halting hostilities casts doubt on the likelihood of a swift agreement. This as G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada struggle to unify their stance on Washington's evolving strategy with Moscow and Kyiv.

Putin's remarks from the Kremlin on Thursday signalled a willingness to engage in talks while making it clear that Russia would not settle for a ceasefire without securing strategic gains.

Speaking to the press after a meeting with Belorussian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian president stressed that any truce must address "the original causes...