Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov attends a gathering of the presidents of Russia and Belarus on the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday.
Maxim Shemetov/AFP through Getty Photographs
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Maxim Shemetov/AFP through Getty Photographs
As U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff enters talks with Russian officers in Moscow on a Trump administration proposal Ukraine has already accepted for a 30-day ceasefire, President Vladimir Putin’s overseas coverage adviser, Yuri Ushakov, rejected the concept.
Talking on Russian state tv, Ushakov dismissed a 30-day ceasefire as a mere “breather” for Ukrainian troops, emphasizing Moscow’s choice for substantive peace talks.
Ushakov reiterated Russia’s calls for: Ukraine should acknowledge Russia’s annexation of Crimea and 4 southeastern areas, withdraw troops from lands claimed by Russia and pledge by no means to affix NATO. He mentioned he “hopes [the United States] is aware of our place and needs to consider that they’ll take it under consideration as we work collectively going ahead.”
Moscow additionally seeks limits on Ukraine’s army, protections for Russian audio system and elections to switch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In the meantime, Russian forces have reclaimed many of the territory misplaced in final summer time’s Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk area.
The U.S. restored army help to Ukraine after ceasefire talks Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. President Trump, pushing for a ceasefire, warned Russia of economic penalties if Putin resists.
