Trump's representative in Moscow: Kremlin does not agree to temporary ceasefire

On March 13, 2025, US Presidential Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow. Witkoff also announced that he plans to participate in negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The main purpose of the visit was to call for support for Moscow's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. However, initial comments from Kremlin sources indicated that the Russian government is against a temporary truce in this case.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in an interview on Rossiya 1 that the main goal of Russian officials is to resolve the problem through a long-term peace agreement. According to Ushakov, "superficial steps that imitate peace efforts" will not benefit anyone. Russia has indicated that it will focus on a long-term agreement that takes into account its interests and concerns.

According to the Russian leadership, a 30-day temporary ceasefire will give Ukraine the opportunity to regroup and gather forces, but it is not beneficial for Russia. According to Ushakov, the proposed ceasefire in Ukraine will not give Russia anything, and will only give Ukraine time for strategic reorganization.

“A 30-day temporary ceasefire. Well, what does it give? It will not give us anything. It will only give the Ukrainians the opportunity to regroup, gather forces and continue to do so,” Ushakov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

“The document, in my opinion, is of an urgent nature (...) It will be necessary to work, think and take into account our position. It only sets out the Ukrainian approach,” Ushakov told reporters, commenting on the proposed ceasefire in Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hoped to get a response from Moscow. Before Ushakov's statement, Rubio said that if Moscow agreed, a ceasefire could be implemented "within days." Rubio added that the US wanted "a ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations."

The Russian delegation also supported the idea of ​​ending the war at talks in Riyadh in February. According to Reuters, Russia presented the US with a number of demands as part of an agreement to end the war. These demands were similar to those made to Ukraine, the US and NATO, namely the recognition of Crimea and other regions of Ukraine as part of Russia and Ukraine's refusal to join NATO. Kremlin officials have not commented on these demands.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to get a clear answer from Moscow. He stressed that Russia's lack of a clear response to the ceasefire proposal means continuing the war and trying to delay the arrival of peace. Zelensky hopes that US pressure will be enough to force Russia to end the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly planned to meet with Witkoff after talks with Alexander Lukashenko on March 13. According to Ushakov, Witkoff said he planned to meet with "very high-ranking Russian representatives" and that he may also meet with Putin.

In this sense, the negotiations between the US and Russia continue in a complex and incomplete manner. The negotiations on Russia's position and the future of the war are open to new developments, depending on the latest developments and the different positions of the states. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”