The United States has urged Russia to “unconditionally” accept a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine, following an agreement between US and Ukrainian officials.
This development follows discussions aimed at persuading Moscow to halt hostilities, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming Kyiv’s willingness to implement the ceasefire. “We are ready to embrace this deal to stop the fighting,” Zelensky stated, emphasizing that Washington had warned of a “strong” response should Russia reject the proposal.
The war, ongoing since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. The ceasefire initiative represents a fresh attempt to de-escalate the conflict.
This diplomatic push comes less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump removed Zelensky from the White House and suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. However, the United States resumed supplies after Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire terms during negotiations in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of Moscow’s unconditional acceptance, saying, “We need to know if they are ready to accept it without conditions. If they say ‘yes,’ it means we are making progress toward peace. If they say ‘no,’ it will be a clear signal of their intentions.”
In response, the Kremlin stated it was reviewing the details of the proposal. Earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry had dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire as “unacceptable.”
Zelensky expressed confidence that the United States would apply significant pressure on Moscow if the ceasefire was rejected. “I expect strong measures—possibly sanctions and increased support for Ukraine,” he said. “The question remains whether Russia wants peace or intends to continue its aggression.” He also reiterated, “We do not trust Russia.”
Meanwhile, the battlefield situation remains challenging for Ukraine, as the country struggles to hold positions in the east and south. On Wednesday, Ukrainian officials reported eight deaths due to ongoing clashes. Additionally, Russia has retaken significant territory in the western Kursk region, reversing gains made by Ukraine during its counteroffensive last August.
Despite hopes for de-escalation, uncertainty persists. Kyiv has sought security guarantees, though Trump has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz would “inform” Moscow of any developments.
In a related event, Russian news agencies reported that the directors of the CIA and Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service recently held their first phone call in years.
Some Ukrainian soldiers remain skeptical about the ceasefire. A serviceman in Kramatorsk noted, “Publicly, they will claim there’s no fighting, but we know they will continue their attacks.” Another Ukrainian, Roman Dunayevsky, insisted, “Peace will only come when Putin is gone.”
In Washington, Trump signaled his willingness to meet Zelensky again and hinted at a possible conversation with Putin later in the week. He expressed optimism that a ceasefire could be secured “within the next few days.”
While diplomatic efforts are underway, Ukraine has also intensified military action, launching its largest-ever drone attack on Russia, which resulted in three fatalities near Moscow. In retaliation, Russia escalated aerial strikes on Ukraine and launched a counteroffensive in Kursk, reclaiming approximately 20 settlements.
Zelensky acknowledged the intensifying Russian pressure, stating, “They are applying maximum force against our troops, and our military is responding accordingly.”
