Russia has expressed criticism towards the proposed US-Ukraine ceasefire, asserting that it would provide only a temporary reprieve for Ukrainian forces. This comes as Donald Trump’s envoy, Steven Witcoff, arrives in Moscow for peace negotiations with the Kremlin.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the proposed 30-day ceasefire is seen by Moscow as “nothing more than a short reprieve for Ukrainian forces.” Ushakov further emphasized that actions imitating peaceful measures are not necessary in the current situation.
Ushakov’s remarks suggest that Moscow considers the 30-day ceasefire plan, accepted in principle by Ukraine, to be unacceptabLe in its current form. His comments come as Witcoff arrives in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin and push for a ceasefire, following recent talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine had previously expressed its readiness to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire, with the US indicating that it would present the proposal to Russia. However, Moscow remains reluctant to commit to any ceasefire or timeline agreement.
Recent statements from Russian officials indicate skepticism towards a temporary ceasefire, suggesting little urgency in reaching an agreement or making concessions. With the battlefield gains favoring Russia, Moscow appears to see little incentive in freezing the fighting without gaining significant concessions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously cautioned against preemptively discussing a Russian response, stating that Moscow would first discuss the details with the US. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, indicated a willingness to discuss the US-backed peace initiative but also emphasized that Moscow would not accept foreign armed forces in Ukraine as a security guarantee and would target them if deployed.
Overall, Russia’s confident rhetoric is supported by its recent battlefield successes. On Thursday, the Kremlin announced that its forces were in the final stages of expelling Ukraine’s army from the Kursk region, recapturing Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine held in the region. Kyiv has indicated that an organized withdrawal is currently underway.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/13/russia-wary-of-proposed-ukraine-ceasefire-plan-as-us-talks-begin
