Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist

Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine, but nuances exist, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

At a press conference with visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin addressed the current state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent discussions surrounding the proposed ceasefire.

Putin said that Russia agrees with the proposals to stop hostilities, but it proceeds from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis.

Putin noted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies.

He mentioned the nuance regarding the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been pushing back Ukrainian forces following their surprise cross-border attack in August 2024.

Putin said he might call U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the issues, reiterating Russia's support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, provided that any agreement is feasible and fair.

On the same day, Trump expressed optimism regarding Putin's statements but cautioned that they were "incomplete". Trump said that he is willing to engage in dialogue with Putin, adding that if Russia rejects the agreement, it would be a "very disappointing moment for the world".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Putin's remarks, believing that they suggest Russia's intent to reject the ceasefire proposal. He asserted that the conditions set by Russia for halting hostilities are merely tactics to manipulate the situation.

Ukraine on Tuesday signaled its readiness to accept a U.S. proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" following talks with a U.S. delegation in Jeddah, according to their joint statement.

The statement also said the truce could be extended by mutual agreement, adding that "the United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace".

Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist

Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist

Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist

Nearly 60 percent of the consumers participating in a survey expressed satisfaction with China's online and offline shopping environments, said the China Consumers Association on Friday.

According to the association's annual survey, 56.7 percent of respondents reported being satisfied with the online shopping environment, while 55.5 percent felt the same about offline shopping. Furthermore, nearly 70 percent of participants acknowledged the effectiveness of regulatory measures aimed at enhancing the consumer environment.

The data indicate that more than 70 percent of consumers believe the current market supply meets their diverse, personalized, and high-quality consumption demands. However, the report identifies critical areas for improvement, noting that insufficient product service quality, data security, and health attributes are the primary factors hindering the fulfillment of these high-quality expectations. Among the factors influencing purchasing decisions, 27.8 percent of respondents prioritized "product quality" as their main concern.

When it comes to corporate performance, consumers are particularly attentive to after-sales support, product reliability, and safety. After-sales service has topped the list of consumer concerns for five consecutive years, highlighting its importance in the overall shopping experience.

Notably, while the focus on cost-performance ratio remains paramount, the attention given to high quality is growing at a rate significantly surpassing that of cost-effectiveness, suggesting a marked transition in consumer priorities.

Additionally, the report shows an encouraging trend in consumer activism regarding rights protection. Only about 2.4 percent of respondents did not pursue any remedial actions in cases of consumer rights violations. The preference for diverse methods of seeking consumer rights protection is evident, with 70 percent expressing satisfaction with the available consumer rights protection services and recognizing their accessibility.

Nearly 60 pct of consumers satisfied with China's online, offline shopping environment: report