Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Monday on not accepting a cease-fire in his 39-month-old war on Ukraine following a two-hour call with President Trump — saying that Moscow was not ready for peace until the “root cause” of the “crisis” is addressed.

“Russia is ready to work with Kyiv on a memorandum on a future peace treaty which could include issues of a cease-fire and principles for resolving the conflict,” Putin said following the call, his first contact with Trump since Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed Friday to trade proposals to halt Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War.

However, the 72-year-old added, there is a “need to work out the most effective paths toward peace” that would be suitable to “all sides.”

The eventual peace agreement, Putin said, could “include a possible cease-fire for a certain period of time if appropriate agreements are reached.”

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