In a significant setback to peace efforts, Russia has rejected the proposed 30-day ceasefire deal with Ukraine. The ceasefire agreement, which was contingent on Russia’s acceptance, aimed to provide a temporary halt to hostilities and create a foundation for a long-term peace deal. However, Russian officials have deemed the proposal unacceptable, citing concerns that it would allow Ukraine to strengthen its armed forces.
The ceasefire proposal was announced after extensive talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to the ceasefire, and the U.S. had pledged to resume intelligence-sharing and security assistance to Ukraine. The agreement was seen as a significant step towards achieving lasting peace in the region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that firm agreements on a final settlement are needed, and a temporary ceasefire is unacceptable. She emphasized that Ukraine would use the pause to strengthen its military potential with the help of its allies. Russian officials have also ruled out ceding captured Ukrainian territory and have reiterated their desire to roll back NATO’s presence across Europe.
Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/why-has-russia-rejected-trumps-ukraine-truce-plan
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-ukraine-war-russia-rejects-001307746.html