**Temporary Ceasefire Considered, but War Continues**
Moscow is thinking about a temporary ceasefire, but its military keeps pushing forward on the front line. Diplomatic talks can be slow and hard, but on the battlefield, they’re measured in lost lives.
At a hospital in eastern Ukraine, injured soldiers keep arriving by ambulance. There’s a big difference between diplomatic talks far from the fighting and the harsh reality of war, where people are getting hurt badly.
We watched as two dozen Ukrainian soldiers were loaded onto a bus to go to a hospital in Dnipro. Some were walking wounded, while others were carried on stretchers. The bus had medical equipment to help them on their way.
Most of those we talked to don’t think this war will end soon. Thirty-year-old Maksym is on a stretcher with shrapnel wounds. He said he’d heard about the possible ceasefire, but added that “murderers” like Putin won’t agree easily.
**Soldiers Doubt Ceasefire Will Happen**
Vova, another soldier, said they were facing Russian attacks every day near the besieged city of Pokrovsk. “I doubt there will be a truce,” he said.
Maksym, who’s been injured before, also didn’t believe in a ceasefire. He said many friends of his aren’t with them anymore and you can’t trust Russia.
The medical bus is run by Ukraine’s Volunteer Army Medical Battalion, known as the Hospitallers. They transport scores of injured soldiers every day. Sofiia, a 22-year-old medical student, has been working with them for 18 months. She too is skeptical about the ceasefire chances: “I really wish it would happen,” she said.
**Medics Skeptical About Ceasefire**
Sofiia told us that even when Ukraine and America agreed to press for a ceasefire, Russian drones were flying over their base, being engaged by Ukrainian air defenses. To her, talk of peace is like something from another world.
Daniel, a medic who joined the Hospitallers from Sweden, said he understands what it’s like when a smaller nation is attacked by its giant neighbor. His grandfather fought for Finland against Russia during World War Two. History counts.
**No-One Wants to Hope**
When Daniel first arrived in Ukraine, he used to ask injured soldiers what they would do after the war. He doesn’t any more because no-one wants to be disappointed. They don’t dare to hope.
Daniel’s not ruling out a ceasefire but said you can’t trust Putin to do anything that’s not beneficial to him.
**Ukraine Has Experience with Russia**
Ukraine has had bitter experience negotiating with Russia. France and Germany brokered ceasefires in 2014 and 2015, but they didn’t work. Nor did they deter Russia from invading Ukraine eight years later.
There may be talk of peace, but the men of Ukraine’s 67th Brigade are still preparing for war. We watched as they rehearsed their drills to evacuate an injured soldier under fire. Most have already had to do it for real.
**Artillery Rumbles in the Distance**
In the distance, we can hear the rumble of artillery. It’s just 10 miles to the frontline where they’ll soon be returning.
One of the few positives is that the US is resuming its military support. The 67th Brigade is conducting their drills with a US-supplied MaxxPro armoured vehicle.
Ivan, the driver, said he’s relieved the Trump administration has now agreed to reverse the block on aid. His vehicle needs regular repairs. “I would like them to keep helping,” he said.
But Ivan is still unsure if President Trump can be trusted. He said no-one wants to trust President Putin either. Here, even a temporary ceasefire feels like a long way off.