**Russia Rejects US Ceasefire Proposal**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a US ceasefire proposal that was accepted by Ukraine earlier this week. The proposal, made in Jeddah on March 11, called for a 30-day ceasefire if Russia also agreed to it.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed the idea of a ceasefire on March 13, saying it would be a “respite for the Ukrainian military“. This means that Russia is not willing to accept the proposal, which was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
**Kyiv Not Surprised**
The potential rejection came as no surprise in Kyiv. Lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko said Putin is not interested in peace or a true ceasefire. He believes Putin will try to make it look like an agreement, but with unacceptable demands.
General Sir Richard Shirreff, former deputy supreme allied NATO commander Europe, also expressed his doubts about Russia’s intentions. He said Putin has not backed off from his maximalist demands, which include the neutralization of Ukraine and its demilitarization.
**US Leverage Weakens**
The US has less leverage now than it did a few weeks ago. The Trump administration has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and said Kyiv must be prepared to concede territory. This move was described as “giving away all your strongest cards before the negotiation has started”.
Ukraine may be forced to agree to some sort of territorial concessions, but it has previously rejected a full withdrawal from all four oblasts.
**Trump’s Role**
The future of any peace process now hinges on Trump’s response. The US has threatened Russia with economic sanctions if they don’t accept the ceasefire proposal. John Herbst, former US ambassador to Ukraine, said this puts immense pressure on Trump to follow through.
But there’s always the possibility that Trump could impose Putin’s maximalist demands on Ukraine, which would have enormous consequences for the entire world.