Speaking on Fox News on May 1, US Vice President J.D Vance said that Washington's urgent task now is no longer to increase military support but to "help Russia and Ukraine find a common voice" to end the conflict that has lasted for more than 3 years.
In the end, it is them Russia and Ukraine alone who can end this brutal conflict with a peace deal, Vance said, speaking in defence of President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for negotiations and questioned the effectiveness of unlimited military aid to Kiev.
President Trump has suggested that Ukraine accept giving up Crimea - a territory annexed by Russia since 2014 - as part of a ceasefire agreement. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the possibility, citing that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow the abandonment of any territory.
Meanwhile, Washington has just signed a mineral deal with Kiev that would allow the US to share profits from rare earth exploitation in Ukraine in exchange for future security assistance. This move shows that the US is seeking to protect its strategic interests in Ukraine in the event of peace negotiations taking place.
At the same time Mr. Vance called for finding a diplomatic solution, the US State Department also urged the parties to make a breakthrough, warning that if there is no progress, President Trump will have to decide whether to spend more time on this conflict or not - according to Secretary Marco Rubio.
However, fighting on the ground continues to escalate. On May 1, Russia announced a 3-day ceasefire from May 8-10, coinciding with the anniversary of the end of World War II. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for a 30-day ceasefire.
Also on the same evening, a Russian UAV attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine injured 14 people.
In contrast, Russia accused Ukraine of using UAVs to attack a market in a Russian-controlled area, killing seven people and injuring more than 20. Kiev denied this, saying the attack was only aimed at military goals.
