Russia faces backlash over proposed Ukraine ceasefire

War bloggers argue that the United States and Ukraine might "abandon" the ceasefire conditions "at the first opportunity." In their view, the conflict in Ukraine holds "existential significance" for Russia.

Deputy of the Russian State Duma, Gen. Viktor Sobolev, emphasized that Russia should not agree to the "unacceptable" ceasefire proposal, as it would allow Ukraine time to rearm and regroup forces. Although the Kremlin has not officially responded to the proposal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, mentioned that Russia "does not rule out" contact with the US in the coming days.

Another staunch Kremlin supporter wrote: "Zelensky's team claims it is ready for an immediate 30-day ceasefire and that the US will resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The Americans have not commented on this yet. The purpose of a 30-day ceasefire for Russia without achieving the goals of the SWO [special military operation] remains a mystery," they wrote on Telegram.

Duma Security Committee member Mikhail Sheremet stated that Russia is interested in an agreement but "will not be fooled." Experts note that the talks in Saudi Arabia put Vladimir Putin in a difficult position. Rejecting the proposal may harm relations with the US, which signals a desire to improve relations.

Paul Ronzheimer from "Bild" suggests that the Ukrainian delegation might have assumed Russia would reject the proposal, potentially upsetting Donald Trump. The US President has expressed that he expects an agreement within "the next few days," which could lead to new sanctions on Russia.

The proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine has generated mixed reactions, and its rejection by Russia could have significant implications for international relations. Vladimir Putin faces a dilemma that could impact the future of Russian-American relations.