Russia is studying the possibility of suspending long-range missile and drone strikes on Ukraine as a concession to US President Donald Trump. According to the sources, the condition is that the Ukrainian army must also apply a similar measure.
The visit to Russia by US special missionary Steve Witkoff this week is seen as a rare opportunity for Moscow and Washington to reach an agreement on the Ukrainian conflict, although the possibility of success is not high. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment in detail on the proposals.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko raised the idea of establishing a "c land war order" but Putin did not respond at that time. Observers say it is difficult for Mr. Putin to accept a full-scale ceasefire as Russian forces continue to make progress on the battlefield and the campaign's goals have not changed.
The US and Europe have called for a 30-day ceasefire, but Mr. Putin has denied it, even though each side unilaterally declared a 72-hour ceasefire on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. The two sides had also agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure for 30 days after Russian and Ukrainian leaders held phone talks with Trump, but later accused each other of violations.
Witkoff has been to Russia four times this year and this time he may meet Putin. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump continues to increase pressure by threatening to impose heavy tariffs on countries that buy oil and goods from Russia, including India and China. Some say that a air ceasefire could be a political gift that Trump would like from Russia to accelerate the negotiations process.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has held 6 phone calls with Mr. Putin with the goal of quickly ending the Ukrainian conflict, but has yet to reach a comprehensive ceasefire.
