US and Ukraine agree on a 30-day ceasefire proposal, offering a glimmer of hope in the conflict with Russia; however, Moscow’s acceptance remains uncertain.
The US has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal with Ukraine, which would bring an end to the conflict with Russia. The agreement was reached after eight hours of negotiations between the two sides in Saudi Arabia.
The US-Russia-Ukraine ceasefire refers to a series of agreements aimed at halting hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
The first agreement was reached in September 2014, but it failed to hold due to ongoing violence and territorial disputes.
In February 2022, 'Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine' , leading to widespread destruction and humanitarian crises.
Since then, multiple ceasefire attempts have been made, including the July 2022 grain export deal.
However, these agreements have been repeatedly violated, and fighting continues in various parts of Ukraine.
According to a joint statement released by the US and Ukrainian delegations, Ukraine is willing to accept the US proposal for an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire that could be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, subject to acceptance and implementation by Russia.
A ceasefire proposal is a formal agreement between warring parties to temporarily stop hostilities and violence.
This can be a crucial step in conflict resolution, allowing for negotiations and potentially leading to a lasting peace.
Ceasefire agreements often involve specific terms, such as the withdrawal of troops or the cessation of certain types of weaponry.
Key statistics show that ceasefire proposals have successfully ended conflicts in 70% of cases, with notable examples including the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in 'Northern Ireland' and the 2003 ceasefire in 'Sri Lanka'.
The US has also agreed to lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and resume intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The two sides have agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.
However, it remains to be seen whether Russia will accept the ceasefire proposal, which would require significant concessions from Moscow. Secretary of State ‘Marco Rubio‘ said that the US will present the offer to the Kremlin and that the ball is now in Moscow’s court.
The Russian government has been involved in several ceasefire agreements, particularly in the context of the Syrian Civil War and the Ukrainian conflict.
In Syria, a ceasefire was brokered in 2016 as part of the 'Geneva II Conference'.
However, fighting continued in some areas.
In Ukraine, a ceasefire agreement was signed in 2020, but violence persisted along the contact line.
Russia has also been involved in ceasefire talks with other countries, including Turkey and Georgia.
According to reports, over 1 million people have been displaced due to conflicts involving Russian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the ceasefire deal, stating that if Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately. He also emphasized that Ukraine is willing to do everything to achieve peace as soon as possible.
The development comes after a tense White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, during which they argued about the war in Ukraine.
