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Russia Ignores the 30-Day Ceasefire, and Hopes for Peace Fade
As the world awaits Russia’s reactions to the American proposal for a temporary ceasefire of 30 days in Ukraine, Moscow’s response has come directly from Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, who described the proposal as offering no advantages for his country.
Despite this, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin will determine Russia's official stance on the ceasefire in Ukraine. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the lack of a "serious" response from Moscow indicates that the Kremlin prefers to continue fighting. In a statement, Zelensky noted that the absence of positive reactions demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and delay peace for as long as possible.
This came following Ushakov's remarks, in which he confirmed that he informed U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz of the necessity to reach a long-term settlement for the Ukrainian conflict. He also clarified that Russia hopes its demands regarding the ceasefire will be met and that it does not wish for the ceasefire to be merely a break for Ukrainian forces, according to the TASS agency.
On another front, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Putin might address the ceasefire issue during his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
In a separate development, Zelensky issued a warning via a video on social media platforms, cautioning against the dangers of Moscow’s manipulation and deceitful actions. He emphasized the importance of having security guarantees, warning against being misled by Russia in its peace efforts.
The Ukrainian delegation had expressed its readiness to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire for 30 days, provided that Moscow reciprocated that gesture. Following this, the U.S. administration lifted the temporary suspension on arms deliveries to Kyiv, in response to what it described as a goodwill gesture.
While the Kremlin did not confirm whether Russia had provided the United States with a list of demands related to the Ukraine deal, Peskov stated that Washington had provided Russia with accurate information regarding the ceasefire proposal. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the regions included as Russian territories are considered by the constitution to be parts of Russia, describing this as an "undeniable reality."
