The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump do not support the idea of a temporary ceasefire proposed by Europe and Ukraine as a step preceding a peace agreement on the war in Ukraine. The statement was made by Yury Ushakov, the Russian president’s foreign policy aide, following a telephone conversation between the two leaders on December 28, which lasted about 75 minutes and was initiated by Trump ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Miami.

According to Ushakov, the two leaders share the view that a temporary truce proposed by Kyiv and its European partners, “under the pretext of preparing a referendum or for other reasons”, would be more likely to prolong the conflict rather than bring it closer to an end, and could lead to a resumption of hostilities.

The Kremlin aide stressed that, in Moscow’s assessment, ending the war would require Ukraine to take a “bold step” regarding Donbas, a region where Russia currently controls about 90% of the territory. Moscow’s position includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the remaining areas, which it considers a necessary condition for ending the fighting.

Russia controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory after more than three years of military operations. Diplomatic efforts extend beyond the issue of a ceasefire to possible political solutions, but Moscow and Washington have agreed that a short-term ceasefire without lasting guarantees would effectively freeze the status quo without resolving the fundamental issues of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Trump said at a joint press conference with Zelensky that he understands Putin’s position, noting the Russian leader’s skepticism about a ceasefire during preparations for a referendum, as such a pause could be used by the parties to regroup. The U.S. president emphasized that he is “on the side of peace” and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved, while agreeing that ceasefire proposals require careful consideration.

Washington has repeatedly stated its goal of ending the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II. As part of these efforts, Trump has dispatched senior envoys, including his special representative Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to hold talks with Russian, Ukrainian, and European officials.

However, skepticism toward temporary ceasefires remains high in both Moscow and Washington, with leaders arguing that such measures, without clear political conditions, do not ensure a lasting peace and may only delay deeper negotiations.

#USA

#RUSSIA

29.12.2025 08:50