Vladimir Putin supports the idea of a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict but sees a need for thorough discussion; the Russian army’s progress in the Kursk Region alters the frontline situation; and Armenia, Azerbaijan reach an agreement on a draft peace accord. These stories have topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia, according to TASS news agency.
Media: Putin supports ceasefire proposal but stresses need for detailed discussions
Russia agrees with proposals to end military operations but believes that the process should lead to a lasting peace, President Vladimir Putin said. When discussing the nuances that required attention, he highlighted the situation in the Kursk Region, where the Russian Armed Forces are steadily advancing, the continued weapons supplies to Kiev and Ukraine’s mobilization campaign, as well as the need for mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire, Vedomosti writes.
The Trump administration may show flexibility when discussing the Ukraine conflict but it is unlikely to meet all of Russia’s conditions as it seeks to demonstrate strength, Alexey Naumov, author of the VneshPol Telegram channel, said. He believes that Moscow’s direct refusal to accept this initiative would be another red line for Trump, which he may interpret as a personal insult. "However, I doubt that Moscow is considering such an option," Naumov stressed. Still, in his words, "the US realizes that the strategic advantage is on Russia’s side and a continued conflict will harm Washington."
In theory, Russia could agree to a ceasefire at sea and announce a moratorium on airstrikes on critical infrastructure, without suspending its offensive operations, Vladimir Vasilyev, senior research fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for US and Canadian Studies, observed. "The proposal [for a complete ceasefire] means a temporary halt in Russia’s advance, while the Ukrainian military will have a chance to regroup its forces and reinforce the most vulnerable sectors of the frontline. It’s another matter if the 30-day ceasefire suggests that the parties provide written commitments in relation to Russia. However, the US is not ready to do that yet," the expert explained. In this regard, Vasilyev believes that military operations could continue during discussions of the ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, according to the analyst, Moscow will most likely insist on institutionalized talks rather than shuttle diplomacy so that dialogue could be maintained in a more comprehensive manner.
The best step towards peace would be for the opponent to leave Russian territory, abandon plans to join NATO, and ensure demilitarization and denazification, said experts interviewed by Izvestia. So far, the initiatives on resolving the conflict that have been discussed by the US and Ukraine have been causing reasonable concern to Russia because with the current Ukrainian leadership in power, Moscow cannot be sure that military operations won’t be resumed once the situation favors Kiev and the West more.
Izvestia: Russian army’s advance in Kursk Region alters frontline dynamics
The liberation of the town of Sudzha in Russia’s bordering Kursk Region has deprived Ukraine of a bargaining chip in terms of "territorial exchanges" in talks, said experts interviewed by Izvestia. The Ukrainian army has lost its last major stronghold on Russian territory. Moreover, this signifies a defeat not only for Ukrainian forces but also for NATO, as Kiev has never concealed foreign advisors’ participation in the development of the Kursk incursion operation.
The battle for Sudzha lasted for over seven months. On August 6, 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces shelled Sudzha, crossed the Russian border, and entered several communities, including this town. "The Ukrainian military turned Sudzha into its fortress on the very first days of the incursion," said Roman Shkurlatov, a retired lieutenant colonel and chairman of the Officers of Russia public organization. "We outperformed the enemy in terms of tactics and operational art," the expert pointed out. "Three factors have played an important role in this operation. We ensured control over the enemy’s logistics routes, that is, the roads from the Sumy Region. A pause in US intelligence sharing made it possible for us to concentrate forces for a decisive attack. And lastly, the courage of our soldiers and officers was crucial as they infiltrated 15 kilometers through a gas pipeline to go beyond the enemy’s lines and reach its major stronghold. The issue of Ukrainian troops on our soil will be resolved in a week or two at most," the expert elaborated.
"This is a failure not only for the Ukrainian armed forces but also for the entire NATO bloc," military expert Viktor Litovkin emphasized. "Ukraine has never been a sovereign state but has always acted based on intelligence and even demands from the West. They did not hide that this operation had been prepared together with the alliance’s instructors. All this is dealing a blow to NATO’s image and the morale of Ukrainian soldiers and officers," he added.
Diplomatic efforts must have intensified because of the change in the military balance. The Ukrainian armed forces did not "leave" Sudzha but retreated, Mikhail Mironyuk, associate professor with the Department of Politics and Management at the Higher School of Economics, said. "The fact is that there will be no territorial bargaining, which is what ‘talking heads’ and decision-makers on the other side made so many statements about," the expert noted.
According to Ivan Loshkaryov, associate professor with the Department of Political Theory at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, the operation in the Kursk Region makes it clear that territorial exchanges are impossible, while taking the process to a diplomatic level.
Vedomosti: Armenia, Azerbaijan reach agreement on draft peace treaty
Armenia has accepted the final two provisions of a draft peace treaty with Azerbaijan, which the two countries have been unable to agree upon for five years since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in the fall of 2020. "That said, the peace accord is ready for signing," the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated. Baku, in turn, was "pleased to note" that the talks on the draft document had concluded, Vedomosti writes.
The reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh Region in the preamble to the Armenian constitution was the main obstacle, along with the inadmissibility of third countries’ missions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, said Artur Atayev, a Russian expert in the Caucasus region. Besides, the parties must have agreed to dismiss lawsuits against each other in international courts.
Another controversial point that the parties had been unable to agree on for a long time was the so-called Zangezur Corridor to the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan, which passes through Armenia’s Syunik Region. According to Atayev, the peace agreement will be signed in the near future, as soon as Baku aligns the document with Turkey and Yerevan holds consultations with France and the EU. "Perhaps, this will pave the way for the reopening of transport links in the Caucasus. At least, the parties will engage in substantive discussions on the matter," the expert pointed out.
Meanwhile, Nikolay Silayev, a leading researcher with the Center for International Studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, questions whether the peace accord will be signed shortly. "Armenia and Azerbaijan still have a lot of disagreements on regional development issues, which require time to resolve. This is why I don’t expect Baku and Yerevan to resolve them immediately," the expert said.
The peace agreement is only a framework and a declaration of intent, Stanislav Pritchin, deputy head of the Central Asia Department at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations, asserted. After its signing, Baku and Yerevan will have to address numerous more complex issues on the ground, he added. However, in Silayev’s words, even though the peace agreement does not automatically mean an unblocking of regional transport links, it will in theory create a constructive atmosphere for further negotiations.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: New Syrian authorities target former elite
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed the Constitutional Declaration, designed to serve as a legal foundation for the country during the political transition. One of the newest provisions is dedicated to the legal prosecution of the former supporters of ousted President Bashar Assad, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
According to the Constitutional Declaration, the Islamic legal system, fiqh, which provides for changes in specific rules based on changing circumstances, will be the primary source of Syria’s laws during the transitional period. The presidential system of government has been adopted for this period, with the president holding all the executive power. This position can only be filled by a Muslim.
The Constitutional Declaration states that the political transition in Syria may last up to five years. Meanwhile, the central government's unified army is the only force that has the right to possess weapons. An important legislative change is that the declaration contains a provision on "transitional justice," a mechanism aimed at ensuring the accountability of Assad’s former supporters for their actions during the civil war.
Russian International Affairs Council expert Kirill Semenov explains that the Constitutional Declaration essentially repeats the provisions of previous versions of the Syrian constitution. "It’s about the Arabic language, a Muslim president, and the Islamic fiqh system as the guiding legislation; nothing has changed," the expert specified. "As for the rights of minorities, it remains to be seen what stance will be taken towards the Alawites and the Druze and whether they will be regarded as Muslims or not," he added.
The analyst points out that it’s the Islamic fiqh system that will be the dominant legislation during the political transition rather than the Shariah judiciary, which is more comprehensive and demanding. In the past, Syria was considered a secular country based on its constitution, and the same applies to the new Syria, the expert concluded.
Kommersant: Prospects look promising for recovery of diamond industry
Positive trends have emerged in the diamond industry, which has been enduring a crisis. The prices that hit multi-month lows in February are gradually increasing. However, the recovery process may take several years, Kommersant notes.
Russia’s Alrosa diamond producer points out that the diamond market has been showing signs of stabilizing. "As demand for jewelry remains high and diamond supply restricted, the balance between demand and supply is being gradually restored. The process began in 2025, creating conditions for the further strengthening of the market in the medium term," the company said.
An industry source told Kommersant that a decline in production and a lack of new large deposits might in the future raise the risk of limited supply, positively impacting diamond prices, including those of big stones, which consumers view both as a luxury purchase and an investment.
However, experts are still not ready to confidently talk about prices taking an upward trend. "The current crisis particularly stands out for fundamental changes in the industry, as the popularity of artificial stones is rising and the younger generation prefers to gain new emotions from experiences rather than material goods," BCS Investment analyst Ahmed Aliyev noted.
However, the prospects look more optimistic in the longer run. Prices are expected to increase amid recovering demand in the countries where the level of luxury consumption is high, namely Middle East nations, China, and the US.
Manufacturers also expect the production decline to play its role. According to expert estimates, the output of gem-quality diamonds will not exceed 83 million carats starting in 2025. There are enough growth drivers, and the market just has to wait for stocks to diminish, Alrosa concludes.
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