President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is proposing an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. He threatened, "If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions."
Trump wrote in a social media post that he "will remain committed" to peace between Ukraine and Russia, contradicting statements from his administration last month that emphasized the US might withdraw from talks if negotiations didn't advance. The president posted on Truth Social that "This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment's notice if my services are needed."
Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 8, 2025
Trump noted that both countries would be responsible for maintaining any potential ceasefire, without directly blaming Russia. Negotiations for "lasting peace" would continue with European leaders, he added, as many Europeans had previously feared possible exclusion from Ukraine talks.
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said Russia was "asking for too much" to end the war, and stated at the Munich leadership meeting that Russia had rejected calls for a 30-day ceasefire and that the US would seek a long-term solution. Vance added that there is a "large gap" between Russia and Ukraine, and that both sides would need to sit together to formulate an actual deal.
After a difficult start where Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections" and used the same term during their meeting in the Oval Office in February, the US and Ukraine signed an economic agreement last week to harness Ukraine's "rare materials" and create an investment fund to help Ukraine rebuild after the war ends. The deal came after Trump and Zelenskyy met before Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican.
Trump turned to his social media platform, Truth Social, shortly after meeting with Zelenskyy, expressing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he might not want to stop the war. Trump's criticism also came after Russia expanded its ground offensive and attacked Kyiv with a series of deadly missile strikes. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, responded that they are ready to reach an agreement.
"Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire starting now, from this very moment – 30 days of silence," Zelenskyy wrote on X following Trump's social media post. "A ceasefire, sustained and credible, will be a true indicator of movement toward peace."
