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Washington, D.C. – US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a team of Washington-led negotiators is heading to Moscow to propose a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
“We’ve got people going to Russia right now as we speak," Trump confirmed, stating that envoys will present the ceasefire proposal directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump expressed optimism that the temporary truce could be a major breakthrough in ending the ongoing war, stating:
“And if we do, I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished.”
However, he did not reveal details about who is part of the negotiating team or specific terms of the proposal.
Kremlin Awaits More Details from Washington
Following Trump’s statement, the Kremlin confirmed that it is awaiting further details from Washington regarding the proposed ceasefire.
Trump said he hopes Putin will accept the US-led initiative, adding:
“I hope he’s going to have a ceasefire. It’s up to Russia now.”
The Ukrainian government has already agreed to the proposal, increasing pressure on Moscow to respond.
Possible US Sanctions if Russia Rejects the Ceasefire
Trump hinted that if Russia refuses the deal, the US is prepared to take severe financial action against Moscow.
“I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don’t want to do that because I want to get peace," he stated.
While Trump did not provide specifics, he suggested "devastating" sanctions could be used to push Russia into accepting the truce.
Zelenskyy and US Officials Push for Truce
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously confirmed that Kyiv is ready to halt the fighting under the proposed deal. He also warned that the US will take strong measures if Russia refuses the offer.
The ceasefire talks mark a significant shift in US policy, especially considering Trump’s previous removal of Zelenskyy from the White House and the temporary halt of US military aid to Ukraine. However, the US resumed its support after Ukraine formally agreed to the truce proposal in negotiations held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
US Seeks Russia’s "Full, Unconditional" Agreement
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington is expecting Russia’s unconditional acceptance of the proposal.
“That’s what we want to know—if they’re prepared to do it unconditionally," Rubio said.
He further stated:
“If the response is ‘yes,’ then we know we’ve made real progress, and there’s a real chance of peace. If their response is ‘no,’ it would be highly unfortunate, and it’ll make their intentions clear.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. The proposed ceasefire could be a major step toward peace, depending on Russia’s response in the coming days.
