Russia Rejects U.S. 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal, Seeks Long-Term Settlement in Ukraine

Russia is poised to reject a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, according to Russian officials. President Vladimir Putin finds it difficult to agree to the ceasefire in its current form, as any agreement would need to consider Russia's battlefield advances and address Moscow's concerns. Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Moscow is not interested in a temporary ceasefire but seeks a long-term settlement that respects Russia's interests. Ushakov dismissed the proposed ceasefire as a temporary respite for Ukrainian forces, saying, 'The proposed ceasefire is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military.' Another senior Russian official told Reuters, 'Putin has a strong position because Russia is advancing.' The Kremlin's stance suggests that any ceasefire agreement would need to be negotiated on terms favorable to Russia, with guarantees addressing its strategic interests.