Putin calls for temporary administration in Ukraine, Kyiv reacts

The Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti quoted Putin's statements.

 In particular, the Kremlin leader said that US President Donald Trump “sincerely wants to end the conflict in Ukraine,” and Russia is ready to work with any country that seeks to “resolve the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict for a peaceful solution.” 

Putin also suggested introducing an interim administration in Ukraine. 

“In principle, of course, it would be possible to discuss the possibility of interim rule in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the US, with European countries, of course, with our partners and friends. In order to hold democratic elections, in order to bring to power a government that is capable and trusted by the people, and then start negotiations on a peace treaty with them,” he was quoted as saying by Russian Meduza.

Putin also believes that some “curators from Europe” have convinced Ukraine to “continue the war to the last Ukrainian” so that Russia will suffer a strategic defeat. 

“Our troops have a strategic initiative along the entire front line. I said recently that we would push them, but there are reasons to believe that we will finish them off,” he said, referring to Ukraine. 

Ukraine's Presidential Office responds

Dmytro Lytvyn, the President's communications advisor, reacted to the statement in X.

“If Putin is once again struggling to understand who he needs to engage with to seriously move toward ending this war, maybe he should just pop some pills to kickstart his brain activity – assuming such pills still have any effect on him,” he said.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, said that Putin is doing everything to delay and disrupt the movement toward peace because he is not interested in ending the war. Therefore, he is constantly putting forward crazy ideas and demands.

“It is possible to narrow its field of maneuver because of tough economic restrictions for Russia and Ukraine's strengthening. I hope this will become clear if Russia does not cease fire by Easter,” Kovalenko said.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi suggested a counter-proposal on the social media platform X, proposing a UN interim administration in Russia, beginning with Vorkuta.

“It seems that locals would benefit greatly from any governance other than Putin, who spends billions of dollars on his criminal war against Ukraine,” he added.

White House reaction

The United States also reacted to the Russian leader's statement. 

A representative of the White House National Security Council, answering a question about Putin's statements about the interim administration, said that governance in Ukraine is determined by its Constitution and the people of the country, Reuters reports.

European Commission and UN response

“Mr. Zelenskyy has been legitimately elected, democratically elected, and as long as the Ukrainian people do not ask for elections, no one else should suggest them,” European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said at a briefing on March 28.

According to her, the European Union recognizes that Putin is the aggressor in this war, so it does not intend to “pay attention or comment on whatever he issues as propaganda.”

“We will closely look at the facts, and the fact is that we have an aggressor. We have Ukraine who is showing nothing but goodwill towards peace, and this is where we are in terms of our support to Ukraine and our focus on ensuring that we will have a long and just and lasting peace,” Anitta Hipper, Lead Spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy summarized.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to introduce a temporary administration in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations.

“Ukraine has a legitimate government, and it is obvious that it must be respected,” he was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.

The Secretary-General also noted that the UN is not involved in the negotiations that the United States is conducting separately with Ukraine and Russia on the safety of civilian navigation in the Black Sea.

• Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that everyone needs the United States to be stronger against Russia.