Washington: President Donald Trump has called on Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, warning that any violations would trigger additional sanctions from the United States and its allies. The appeal came after a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reaffirmed his willingness to halt hostilities immediately if Russia does the same.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Talks between Russia and Ukraine are ongoing. The U.S. urges a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions. If violated, more sanctions will follow.” He emphasized that both Moscow and Kyiv would be held responsible for honoring the truce, which aims to bring a temporary halt to the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky welcomed the proposal, stating that Ukraine is prepared to begin a "real and complete" ceasefire immediately — provided Russia stops all missile strikes and frontline assaults. “This must be genuine, not just words,” he stressed.
While Ukraine endorsed the American-led ceasefire plan in March, Russia had previously dismissed the initiative, reportedly confident in its battlefield momentum as U.S. military aid to Ukraine slows under the Trump administration.
Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a symbolic three-day ceasefire, which included a military parade in Moscow attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, Kyiv accused Moscow of violating the truce within hours and dismissed the move as a public relations stunt.
Trump, who promised during his campaign to resolve the war swiftly, has made direct overtures to Putin since returning to office, easing the diplomatic isolation imposed on the Kremlin since 2022. Yet recent statements from Trump indicate growing frustration with both sides, including Zelensky, whom he and Vice President JD Vance harshly criticized in a recent White House meeting for perceived ingratitude toward past U.S. support.
Despite tensions, Ukraine's parliament ratified a long-delayed minerals development deal with the United States on Thursday — an agreement that Zelensky had originally hoped to finalize during his contentious White House visit. The deal, which focuses on joint exploration of Ukraine’s critical minerals used in high-tech industries, does not include military guarantees. Nonetheless, Trump administration officials argue that increased American economic presence in Ukraine serves as a strategic deterrent to Russian aggression.
Looking ahead, Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia next week — a country that has hosted separate U.S. talks with both Russia and Ukraine. When asked about the possibility of an unscheduled meeting with Putin during the trip, Trump responded, “I don’t think so, but we’re having very good conversations. Very, very good.”
