Russian bloggers condemn proposed 30‑day Ukraine ceasefire
Russian war bloggers have sharply criticised the proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, describing it as "pure betrayal and sabotage."
The bloggers claim that the United States and Ukraine may "abandon" the ceasefire conditions "at the first opportunity." In their view, the war in Ukraine holds "existential significance" for Russia.
Deputy of the Russian State Duma, General Viktor Sobolev, emphasised that Russia should not agree to the "unacceptable" ceasefire proposal, as it would allow Ukraine time to rearm and regroup. Although the Kremlin has not officially responded to the proposal, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, noted that Russia "does not rule out" contact with the US in the coming days.
Another staunch supporter of the Kremlin commented: "Zelensky's gang claims it is ready for an immediate 30-day ceasefire and that the US will resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The Americans have not yet commented on this. The purpose of a 30-day ceasefire for Russia, without achieving the goals of the special military operation, remains a mystery," he wrote on Telegram.
Duma Security Committee member Mikhail Sheremet stated that Russia is interested in an agreement but "will not be deceived." 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 reset relations.
Western experts divided
Paul Ronzheimer from "Bild" suggests that the Ukrainian delegation might have assumed that Russia would reject the proposal, which could anger Donald Trump. The US President has made it clear that he expects an agreement "within the next few days," which could result in new sanctions on Russia.
The proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine has elicited mixed reactions, and its rejection by Russia could have far-reaching consequences for international relations. Vladimir Putin faces a dilemma that could impact the future of Russian-American relations.