U.S. hints at walking away from ongoing discussions
The heat is on in the Ukraine war negotiations, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatening to pull the plug on American mediation efforts. The recent stalemate in talks has Rubio contemplating an exit strategy, stating that there needs to be "concrete proposals" on the table to end the conflict. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed this sentiment, saying there'd be no further involvement if "progress" isn't made.
Rubio had hinted at walking away from negotiations as early as Sunday. He said the efforts to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine were reaching a critical point, potentially the "most decisive week yet." The U.S. government is grappling with the decision of whether to continue its role in the peace talks or focus on other pressing matters.
Donald Trump voiced doubts about Russia's sincerity in wanting a peace agreement following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome. The persistent Russian aggression against Ukraine has led Trump to suspect that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to keep the war simmering, rather than ending it. Trump expressed his thoughts on his Truth Social platform.
Russia has declined Ukraine's proposal for a 30-day extension of the ceasefire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov revealed that while they've seen President Zelensky's offer, they still have concerns that need to be addressed before agreeing to a long-term truce. "Without answers to these questions, it's impossible to agree to a long-term ceasefire," Peskov stated, reflecting Putin's stance. Putin had previously announced a three-day ceasefire.
Putin had previously set terms for a 30-day ceasefire in March when U.S. President Donald Trump proposed it. He stated that Ukraine couldn't use the time to regroup its troops or rearm, and that Western arms supplies to Kyiv should be halted during this period. Putin didn't mention similar restrictions for the Russian military.
Putin has ordered a three-day ceasefire "for humanitarian reasons" around the World War II commemorations from May 8 to 11. This period includes the elaborate Victory Day parade in Moscow, which numerous foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President and Party leader Xi Jinping and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, are expected to attend. Peskov described the order as a "gesture of goodwill," but it was seen as a deception attempt to fake a readiness for dialogue in Kyiv. Ukraine countered with a demand for a longer-term ceasefire. Peskov said this was not a response to the Russian proposal, and it's still unclear whether Kyiv is ready to accept it.
Lawrow criticized the proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, saying it could be used "to further support the Kiew regime and strengthen its military capabilities." Trump previously expressed dissatisfaction with the three-day ceasefire, emphasizing his desire for a "permanent ceasefire to stop the killing and end the bloodshed." Meanwhile, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for more support for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia, stating that only deterrence works with Putin.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hinted at walking away from the Ukraine negotiations, stating that the efforts to reach a ceasefire are reaching a critical point.
- Despite Ukraine's proposal for a 30-day extension of the ceasefire, Russia has declined, citing concerns that need to be addressed before agreeing to a long-term truce.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously set terms for a 30-day ceasefire, but didn't mention similar restrictions for the Russian military.
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for more pressure on Russia, stating that only deterrence works with Putin, alluding to the ongoing war-and-conflicts in politics and general news.
