All eyes are now on Moscow as Ukraine and the US claim they are ready to implement a 30-day ceasefire in the three-year-long war, but it is in Russia’s hands.
The Kremlin has not revealed whether a phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place this week. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to journalists, said that they are reviewing statements and that Moscow’s officials are aware of a joint statement following discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials.
The possibility of a conversation between President Trump and Putin, which the US president mentioned on Tuesday, has not been ruled out.
After a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Walters, and their Ukrainian counterparts, Dmitry Peskov’s statements emerged.
Despite seven hours of talks, it remains unclear how the war will end. However, both sides have agreed in principle to a one-month ceasefire. In his statements on Wednesday, Marco Rubio said that his team would begin contacting Russia from that day onward, and then they will observe Russia’s response.
He added that they would directly inform them that Ukraine is ready to immediately begin negotiations to halt all activities and bring an end to the war. Rubio also told reporters at Ireland’s airport that he was heading to Washington, D.C.
If Russia’s response is positive, he said, it would signify real progress, and peace would be a real possibility. However, if the answer is no, it would be unfortunate, and Russia’s intentions would become clear.
During a media briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Tuesday’s talks as constructive and suggested that the 30-day ceasefire could be used as a starting point for negotiations towards a broader peace agreement. He emphasized that he is very serious about the ceasefire and considers ending the war to be extremely important.
Zelensky also mentioned that he feels the talks have helped reduce tensions between Kyiv and Washington, especially after his meeting with Trump, which had sparked significant media attention.
However, Putin has not yet offered any concessions to end the war, nor has Trump made such a request. Instead, Trump proposed that Ukraine might need to give up control over one-fifth of its territory and permanently renounce joining NATO.
Marco Rubio stated that if Russia agrees, one key issue to resolve would be who both sides can trust to monitor small arms fire during the ceasefire.
Despite this, Putin has expressed a desire for a ceasefire, but only under conditions that would be equivalent to Ukraine’s surrender. French President Macron welcomed the progress, stating that the ball is now clearly in Russia’s court.
Rubio further explained that the decision is up to Moscow on whether to accept the ceasefire. Ukraine is ready to halt the firing and begin negotiations, and it’s now up to Russia to decide whether to say yes or no. If Russia rejects the proposal, he said, it will become clear what the obstacle to peace is.
Even if Putin agrees to a temporary agreement, the difference in positions between Russia and Ukraine remains significant. Ukraine would first seek security guarantees from neighboring countries before signing any ceasefire deal, given past violations of agreements.
What do you think about this situation? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
By
