Western countries, with US support, have called on Russia to unconditionally cease hostilities for 30 days in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The Western countries have warned that if Russia does not comply, they will take new measures against the country. Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine met in Ukraine and set May 12 as the date to cease hostilities. US President Donald Trump spoke with Western leaders via phone during the meeting.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking to journalists, said the warning to Russia was a challenge from the participating countries and the US to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. He stated that if Putin truly wants to establish peace, this is an opportunity to demonstrate it. Starmer emphasized that Putin needs to agree to the ceasefire proposal without excuses, conditions, or delays.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said that if Russia continues the war without ceasing hostilities, new measures will be taken new measures will be taken against Russia in cooperation with the US and Western countries. He added that if hostilities cease, the US and participating Western countries will closely monitor the situation.
The Kremlin’s response to the Western proposal seemed dismissive. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Western countries speak differently on different occasions and generally in an accusatory tone. He suggested that this approach aims to provoke Russia rather than find a solution or make diplomatic progress.
Peskov also stated that Russia supports the Western idea in principle but indicated that it would only be acceptable under certain conditions. He noted that US military assistance to Ukraine must stop for a temporary ceasefire, arguing that otherwise, only Ukraine would benefit from the cessation of hostilities.
Western countries have been intensifying measures against Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. However, the war has not ended yet. Since Donald Trump assumed the US presidency in January, there have been significant changes in the US approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If Western countries act according to their recent warning, it would signal a unified Western stance on the war issue.
After taking office, Trump engaged in direct consultations with Russia and had significant disagreements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine. However, the two countries have now resolved their issues and signed an agreement for Ukraine to provide some of its natural resources to the US.
Zelensky said that visiting Western leaders have agreed that hostilities should cease from May 12, including attacks by air, sea, and land. He added that if Russia does not agree to this proposal, measures against Russia will include actions in the energy and banking sectors.
