Putin and Trump reject the European-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire idea
Tehran - BORNA - Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov reported on Sunday that during a 1-hour and 15-minute phone call, both leaders concurred that a temporary ceasefire would only prolong hostilities.
The call was initiated by Trump prior to his meeting in Miami with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Before the meeting, Trump said there was a good chance a deal would be reached, describing it as beneficial for Ukraine and all other parties.
Ushakov emphasized that both leaders encouraged Ukraine to make a bold political decision in alignment with ongoing Russian-American diplomatic efforts.
He stated, "The option of a temporary ceasefire proposed by the Ukrainians and Europeans only leads to a prolongation of the conflict."
Trump reiterated his belief in Russia’s willingness to pursue a political resolution. Russia asserts that Ukraine must promptly address the situation in the Donbas region, where it controls 90% of the territory.
Russia, which controls 90% of Donbas, wants Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the 10% of the area that Ukrainian forces still control. Overall, Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly promised to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been negotiating with Russia, Ukraine and European powers.
US and Ukraine 'a lot closer' on peace deal
On Sunday afternoon, Trump and Zelensky held a news conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. When the US president was asked whether Russia would help in Ukraine's reconstruction after the war, Trump said, "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed."
"President Putin was very generous in his feelings towards Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy... at very low prices," he stated.
Trump also said that he and Zelenskiy were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
He said it will be clear "in a few weeks" whether negotiations to end the war will succeed.
Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the European Union as the "main obstacle" to peace, accusing it of preparing for war and supporting Kyiv.
He claimed that the EU's approach has been detrimental to the peace initiative promoted by Trump.
Russia has repeatedly warned that the EU’s meddling in the peace process is hindering the effort. In past weeks, the EU has sought to influence negotiations on settling the Ukraine conflict.
The top Russian diplomat said the EU’s hostility toward Moscow goes back to 2014, when Brussels “started talking about the so-called Russian threat and inciting Russia-hating and militarist sentiment” among European populations.
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