Featured Image Credit: Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, World News, US News
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Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, World News, US News
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging Ukraine's allies not to let Russia's Vladimir Putin 'deceive' them over the proposed 30-day ceasefire.
The Ukrainian president is clearly being cautious after announcing the country is ready to 'restore peace' with Russia after more than three years of conflict in a joint statement between the US and Ukraine on Tuesday (March 11).
US and Ukrainian officials negotiated for eight hours in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where they agreed on an 'immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire,' subject to Russian approval.
As part of the agreement, Washington said it would lift the pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv and 'will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.'
Zelenskyy issued a follow-up on Twitter that the discussion was 'good and constructive', poising three things: 'silence in the skies, silence at sea' and the return of Ukrainian children 'who were forcibly transferred' to Moscow.
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He added that the truce presented an 'ever bigger first step' in stopping missiles, drones and bomb attacks, 'not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line'.
Zelenskyy added that while Ukraine is 'ready' to accept the plan, it comes down to the US to convince the Kremlin to agree - and only then will the ceasefire take place.
Then during his nightly address on Wednesday, he referred once again to the 'very positive meeting' with the US - a far cry from his previous public spat with President Donald Trump last month which saw the POTUS 'yell' at Zelenskyy - but erred on the side of caution with the plan.
"We must move towards peace," the Ukrainian leader added before issuing a stern warning to the country's allies not to be fooled by Vladimir Putin.
"The key factor is our partners' ability to ensure Russia's readiness not to deceive but to genuinely end the war," he said. "Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped."
Meanwhile, the US affirms the 'ball is truly' in Putin's court, as stated by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
So far coming out of the Kremlin, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the proposal is being examined and a response will be issued 'via various channels' in due course.
President Trump also confirmed he had received 'some positive messages' with US officials being sent to Russia 'right now.'
"But a positive message means nothing," the president said. "This is a very serious situation."
Trump also warned Moscow that the US could, 'in a financial sense,' inflict some 'devastating' blows to Russia.
"That would be very bad for Russia," he said. "I don't want to do that because I want to get peace."
According to the BBC, a phone call between Trump and Putin could be possible.
Other European world leaders also met in Paris to discuss the move with UK Defence Secretary John Healy calling on Russia to accept the ceasefire and end the conflict.
"I say to president Putin, over to you, you want to talk, prove it," Healy said.
However, while a response from the Kremlin awaits, many fear Moscow could agree to the armistice but then breach it straight away.
A senior official from Lithuania, which fears Putin's invasion could cross their border, told The Independent: "What for us, Ukraine or the US, is 30 days could be just 30 minutes for Russia.”
A former head of MI6 also said Putin could try to 'push his luck' and pile on impossible demands.