Trump pushes for a ceasefire amid tensions over U.S. mediation
U.S. President Donald Trump once again called on Thursday for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, threatening sanctions for not respecting the truce. He also announced that he would remain engaged in peace talks with the Europeans.
"Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire," Trump wrote in a post on the Truth Social portal after a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions, he added.
Trump announced that as president, he would continue to be engaged in ensuring peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with Europeans.
"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," he declared.
Trump's statement came a day after Vice President J.D. Vance said during a conference in Washington that since Russia has deemed the 30-day truce proposal not in its "strategic interest," the U.S. wants to "move beyond the obsession with a 30-day ceasefire" and focus on a long-term solution.
Will the U.S. withdraw from mediation on the war?
Vance also assessed that Russia demands too much, which he repeated in a Thursday interview with Fox News, pointing to the desire to annex territories it does not control. Contrary to Trump's declarations, the vice president threatened again that the U.S. might step back from mediation in the conflict if Russia does not negotiate in good faith.
On Thursday, the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents had a phone call, their first since their meeting at Pope Francis's funeral. The conversation occurred shortly after the Ukrainian parliament ratified a resource agreement with the U.S.
