A key Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday that any ceasefire deal, despite United States-Ukraine negotiations, would be on Moscow’s terms, not Washington’s.
“Russia is advancing (in Ukraine), and therefore it will be different with Russia,” said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, in a post on Telegram.
“Any [Ukraine ceasefire] deal – with all the understanding of the need for compromise – on Moscow’s terms, not on American. And this is not boasting, but understanding that real agreements are still being written there, at the front. Which they should understand in Washington, too.”
30-Day Ceasefire Plan
Ukraine said on Tuesday that it had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., on the condition that Russia also accepts the proposal.
The ceasefire plan, negotiated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involves the U.S. immediately resuming intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion for over three years.
The U.S. had previously paused such assistance but lifted the suspension as part of the peace initiative.
“We’re ready to halt hostilities and engage in dialogue,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced after over seven hours of high-level negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials.
Immediate Peace Negotiations
Rubio underscored the U.S. commitment to brokering peace, stating, “The Ukrainians have accepted our offer for a ceasefire and immediate peace negotiations. Now, it’s Russia’s turn to decide whether peace is possible.”
The ceasefire, set for an initial 30 days, may be extended if mutually agreed upon, according to the joint statement. The U.S. delegation reaffirmed that securing Russia’s cooperation would be crucial to ensuring lasting peace.
Kyiv’s Stance Remains ‘Unchanged’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war. “Our stance remains unchanged: We have always sought peace and will continue doing everything possible to achieve it swiftly and permanently,” he said.
The two delegations also discussed humanitarian priorities, including prisoner-of-war exchanges, the release of detained civilians, and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia during the conflict. These measures, according to the statement, would be prioritised during the ceasefire.
“The next step lies with Russia,” Rubio said. “We’ve paved the way for peace — now it’s up to them to meet us halfway.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
