The United States has expressed optimism that a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia could be reached in the coming weeks, as Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss the matter, AFP reported.
Washington has proposed a halt in hostilities following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, which Kyiv has accepted. The US and its European allies are now urging Moscow to agree. However, Putin has not provided a clear response, instead raising concerns and setting conditions.
Trump’s envoy for the conflict, Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin, told CNN that the upcoming discussion between the two leaders is expected to be “excellent and positive.” He added that Trump believes an agreement could be possible within weeks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of stalling peace efforts. He claims Russia seeks to strengthen its battlefield position before committing to any ceasefire.
Diplomatic efforts continue, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the situation. The two officials reportedly discussed details from a US-Russia summit held in Saudi Arabia last month. Although the Russian foreign ministry confirmed ongoing discussions, it did not mention the proposed ceasefire.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that Rubio and Lavrov had agreed to continue dialogue on Ukraine. This conversation followed a virtual summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who criticised Russia for delaying peace efforts, saying, "The 'yes, but' from Russia is not good enough."
Despite diplomatic efforts, hostilities persist. Ukraine reported that Moscow launched 90 Iranian-made Shahed drones across nine regions. Additionally, a Russian drone strike killed one person in Izyum, Kharkiv.
Putin has maintained that the ceasefire proposal primarily benefits Ukraine, as Russian forces are currently advancing in certain areas. He has also indicated he wants to discuss Moscow’s concerns directly with Trump.
Zelensky, however, accused Putin of misleading the international community, stating that the Kremlin is finding excuses to avoid ending the war. He also suggested that by rejecting the ceasefire, Putin is opposing Trump’s diplomatic approach.
On Sunday, Ukraine announced a military leadership reshuffle, with Andriy Gnatov replacing Anatoliy Bargylevych as chief of general staff, tasked with improving the efficiency of Ukraine’s armed forces.