Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference in the Kremlin, March 13. (Photo: Reuters)

"We agree with the proposals to stop the hostilities,” Putin said at a press conference after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow. While Russia would support a pause in the fighting, there are issues that need to be discussed, he said, adding that he may need to have a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

Putin thanked Trump for "paying so much attention to settlement in Ukraine" and noted that future steps would depend on developments on the ground. "We will agree on the next steps to end the conflict and reach mutually acceptable agreements," he said.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow for high-level talks. During an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday, Trump said: “We’re getting word that things are going OK in Russia, and it doesn’t mean anything until we hear what the final outcome is. But they have very serious discussions going on right now with President Putin and others, and hopefully they all want to end this nightmare.”