Trump Advocates for Ceasefire as Ukraine Accuses Russia of Violations
In a recent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Trump stated that if the ceasefire is not adhered to, the United States and its allies will impose additional sanctions. Zelenskyy indicated to Trump that Ukraine stands ready for negotiations regarding the war but insists that Russia must demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace by initiating a complete and unconditional ceasefire.
The call, described as positive by a senior Ukrainian official, lasted approximately 20 minutes and centered on efforts to achieve a genuine ceasefire. They also discussed a recent minerals deal between Ukraine and the U.S., which was ratified by the Ukrainian parliament on the same day.
Despite these diplomatic overtures, Ukraine has reported that Russia has violated its self-proclaimed ceasefire 734 times within the first 12 hours, a situation Kyiv's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled a 'farce.' The Russian ceasefire was intended to secure festivities marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Germany in World War II.
Nonetheless, attacks continued. Reports indicated that Russian bombardments in northeastern Ukraine resulted in at least one civilian fatality, with a total of 63 assaults along the 1,000 km frontline. Although the intensity of these assaults was reportedly less than previous days, the Ukrainian Air Force reported missile strikes in several regions, including central Ukraine's Poltava.
In response to the ongoing conflict, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of attacking its positions and asserted that Russian forces would continue to retaliate in kind during the declared ceasefire. Drone alerts were issued in several Russian regions, although no interceptions were reported.
In a related development, Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with Trump, where the former president bolstered support for European initiatives aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine. Merz expressed Germany's readiness to equip Ukraine with much-needed military support, including Taurus cruise missiles, previously withheld by the former government.
Britain also stepped up its efforts against Russia, announcing new sanctions against up to 100 oil tankers associated with a shadow fleet responsible for transporting over $24 billion in oil since the beginning of 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that these vessels are damaging critical subsea cables in Europe.
Starmer is expected to attend a meeting in Oslo on Friday with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which will discuss support for Ukraine and Arctic security. The JEF involves several European nations and aims to bolster military support for Ukraine, including intensive training operations and strategies to counter disinformation.
As the battlefield dynamics evolve, the potential for a diplomatic solution remains critical, with increasing international pressure on Russia to comply with a ceasefire and engage meaningfully in negotiations.
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