West Pressures Putin to Accept U.S.-Backed Ukraine Ceasefire

Western leaders are increasing pressure on Russia, urging President Vladimir Putin to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Trump administration lifted its freeze on military aid to Ukraine after Kyiv formally accepted the truce plan. I Photo: G8uk Flickr

The proposal, backed by Kyiv, aims to halt the three-year war, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporter Victoria Lukovenko wrote.

In its first response, the Kremlin said it was waiting for more details from Washington. Meanwhile, the Trump administration lifted its freeze on military aid to Ukraine after Kyiv formally accepted the truce plan.

“The idea of a 30-day ceasefire is an important and correct step toward a just peace for Ukraine… Now it’s up to Putin,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Andriy Yermak, a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky, reiterated that Ukraine wants peace. Speaking in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, he challenged Russia to make its position clear.

“Russia needs to say—very clearly—whether they want peace or not,” Yermak told reporters. “Do they want to end this war, which they started, or not?”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this stance after talks in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine endorsed the U.S. proposal. “We’re taking this offer to the Russians now, and we hope they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is in their court,” Rubio said.

With Trump applying intense pressure on Kyiv while also engaging with Moscow, Ukrainian officials entered the Saudi talks seeking a partial truce focused on air and sea attacks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia does not rule out a “high-level” phone call with the U.S. regarding Ukraine.