U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning that Washington would impose further sanctions if the ceasefire is not respected.
Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept a U.S. proposal to enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire, while Russia has proposed only a three-day ceasefire to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two on Thursday.
Trump said in a social media post: “If the (30-day) ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.”
“Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations,” Trump said.
“This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed.”
Trump has said he wants to the end the war in Ukraine but his administration has also threatened to abandon its attempts to broker a deal if Russia and Ukraine do not make headway.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday he told Trump in a telephone call that Kyiv was ready for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia “starting this minute.”
The Ukrainian president said Russia had to demonstrate its readiness to end the war, starting with an unconditional ceasefire.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Thursday, Russia had repeatedly violated its own 3-day ceasefire hours after it began and called the initiative a “farce”, while Moscow said Kyiv had continued fighting.
Trump opened negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February, trying to follow through on a campaign pledge to end the war within 24 hours of starting a second term. But he has expressed mounting frustration with both sides as the fighting drags on.
Top U.S. officials have also signaled that Washington may reconsider its role as mediator if progress is not made soon.
