President Donald Trump has confirmed that American representatives are en route to Moscow to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire. Speaking during an Oval Office meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump expressed hope for a breakthrough in negotiations.
“Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia… that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath to end,” Trump stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The diplomatic move follows Ukraine’s agreement on Tuesday to a 30-day ceasefire after talks with the U.S. The meeting marked the first official engagement between Washington and Kyiv since a public clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite Ukraine’s willingness to halt hostilities temporarily, Zelensky has maintained that “everything depends on Russia” and called on Moscow to respond to the proposal.
However, Russian officials have indicated that they will wait for a briefing from U.S. representatives before making a formal decision, stating that they are “studying statements” on the matter. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukraine continued overnight, with Kyiv reporting sustained shelling in multiple regions.
Russia Gains Ground as Ceasefire Talks Stall
Despite discussions of a truce, Russian forces have reportedly captured the key town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat. According to military sources, Ukrainian forces are expected to completely withdraw from the region by Friday.
“There will be no Ukrainian soldiers there by Friday,” wrote Skadovskyi Defender, a well-known Ukrainian military blogger. However, Ukraine’s General Staff has stated that it “currently has no information on the situation.”
The Russian advance comes amid speculation that President Vladimir Putin may be hesitant to accept a ceasefire deal while his forces are gaining ground. On Wednesday, Russian troops captured several villages and continued their offensive against key Ukrainian strongholds, including the capital, Kyiv, and Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
As negotiations progress, key European allies are set to discuss Ukraine’s security concerns. British Defense Secretary John Healey is expected to meet with his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, and Poland later today to explore security guarantees for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Russian intelligence officials have re-established a line of communication. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, SVR, spoke on Tuesday, marking the first direct contact between the two agencies in over two years. Reports suggest that both sides agreed to maintain “regular contact to contribute to international stability and security.”
Trump Yet to Speak Directly with Putin
Despite the ongoing discussions, Trump confirmed that he has not yet spoken directly with Putin about the ceasefire proposal.
“We haven’t spoken to him yet with substance, because we just found out,” Trump stated, adding that while the U.S. has received “some positive messages,” he remains cautious. “A positive message means nothing… This is a very serious situation. This is a situation that could lead to World War Three, and Biden should have never let it happen.”
In a significant revelation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that territorial concessions by Ukraine could be part of a potential peace deal.
“Well, we had conversations,” Rubio admitted when asked whether the issue was discussed during U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized the need for a strong deterrent against future Russian aggression and urged European nations to play a role in ensuring security for Ukraine.
Russian sources, however, indicate that Putin may be reluctant to accept a ceasefire while his forces maintain battlefield momentum. Reports suggest that Russian troops raised their flag in Sudzha, Kursk, after a rapid offensive aimed at expelling Ukrainian forces from the region.
As discussions continue, the situation on the ground remains dire. Overnight strikes on Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih resulted in multiple casualties, including the death of a 47-year-old woman. Five others were injured in the attack, according to regional officials.
Additionally, a solemn tribute was paid to a New Zealand soldier killed in Ukraine. Ukrainian troops performed a haka dance in memory of Dominic Bryce Abelen, a 30-year-old soldier who was killed in battle in August 2022. The ceremony took place before his body was repatriated to his family.
With diplomatic negotiations ongoing and fighting intensifying, all eyes remain on Moscow’s next move. Whether the U.S.-proposed ceasefire will take effect or if the war will continue unabated remains uncertain.
