KEY POINTS
- Trump expresses hope that Russia will agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine
- US delegation heads to Russia for talks on the ceasefire proposal
- Ukraine welcomes truce but distrusts Moscow
- Russia awaits official details from the US before responding
- US resumes arms deliveries to Ukraine via a NATO hub in Poland
- European defence ministers meet in Paris to discuss aid for Ukraine
- Erdogan offers to mediate talks
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he hopes President Vladimir Putin will agree to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, which Kyiv has accepted.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said, “I hope he’s going to have a ceasefire,” while confirming that a US delegation was heading to Moscow for talks on the matter.
According to President Trump, the United States has received “positive messages” regarding the proposed truce, though he did not elaborate on the nature of these communications.
The Kremlin, however, has stated that it is awaiting official details before commenting. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow needed “detailed information” from Washington before formulating a response.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the ceasefire initiative, stating that Ukraine is “serious about ending the war.”
Speaking to Ukrainian media, Zelenskyy said that his government wanted to demonstrate its commitment to peace while countering Russian narratives.
“We will not play into the narrative that we do not want to end the war, a narrative Russia is spreading worldwide,” he said, as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda.
However, the Ukrainian leader made it clear that agreeing to the ceasefire did not mean trusting Moscow. “I have repeatedly emphasised that none of us trust the Russians – we have been through this before,” he added.
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, US arms deliveries to Ukraine resumed on Wednesday, a day after the Trump administration lifted its temporary suspension of military assistance to Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that weapons shipments had restarted via a NATO and US logistics hub in the eastern Polish city of Rzeszów.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a refuelling stop in Shannon, Ireland, said Washington would pursue “multiple points of contact” with Moscow to assess Putin’s willingness to negotiate.
“The ball is truly in their court,” Rubio told reporters, adding that he hoped to see “Russia stop attacks on Ukraine within the next few days as a first step.”
Meanwhile, European defence ministers convened in Paris to discuss military aid for Ukraine and broader rearmament efforts.
The meeting, attended by ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, underscored Europe’s commitment to Ukraine amid shifting US foreign policy.
ALSO READ: Russia Awaits US Details on Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal as West Pressures Putin
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated that “European nations are stepping up,” emphasising that increased defence cooperation and spending would reinforce European security.
France and the UK, as Europe’s two nuclear powers, have taken a leading role in rallying support for Ukraine in recent weeks.
Erdogan offers to mediate peace talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his willingness to host direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Addressing a joint press conference in Ankara with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Erdogan described the US-backed ceasefire proposal as an “important first step” and urged Moscow to “respond constructively.”
Turkiye had previously facilitated prisoner exchanges and grain export agreements between Russia and Ukraine.
Next steps in ceasefire negotiations
With US and Russian officials expected to hold talks in the coming days, the international community remains watchful of Moscow’s response. The ceasefire proposal, if implemented, could provide an opportunity for both sides to explore a long-term resolution to the war.
However, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning the monitoring and enforcement of any temporary truce.
President Zelenskyy has highlighted the need for clear mechanisms to oversee a ceasefire along the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line, where drone warfare remains a persistent threat.
Escalating US-EU trade war
President Trump has intensified his rhetoric against the European Union, declaring that the US will “win” an escalating trade dispute with the bloc.
His remarks came on the day US tariffs on European steel and aluminium took effect, prompting threats of countermeasures from the EU.
Speaking at a White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump insisted, “We’re going to win that financial battle.”
