Moscow alleges that Kiev has violated the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russia’s position on a potential peace agreement for the Ukraine conflict will become clear soon.
On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a 30-day cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure. Since then, Russia has repeatedly accused Kiev of breaking the agreement.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rubio reiterated Trump’s desire to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, Rubio stated that peace requires agreement from both sides. He added that it will be evident within weeks, rather than months, whether Russia is serious about pursuing peace. He expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, stating it would benefit the world, but emphasized the need to verify Russia’s intentions.
Rubio also asserted that Ukraine has demonstrated a willingness to consider a complete ceasefire to facilitate negotiations.
However, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Saturday that starting on the morning of Friday, April 4, the Kiev government, despite Zelensky’s assurances to the US regarding a 30-day halt to attacks on Russian energy facilities, had significantly increased unilateral attacks using drones and artillery on energy infrastructure in Russian regions.
Rubio said that if Russia is not ready for peace, the US will have to reassess its position and future actions, but would be in no different position than it is now, or was when Trump took office.
This week, Putin’s investment representative, Kirill Dmitriev, met with White House officials in Washington. Following the talks, he reported some progress and noted a shared understanding of how to move toward resolving the conflict. However, Dmitriev cautioned that external actors were attempting to undermine the normalization efforts initiated by Trump in February.
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