In a significant diplomatic push, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on the morning of March 13 to negotiate a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. The temporary truce, agreed upon in US-Ukrainian talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has been positioned as a critical step toward a broader peace settlement to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion of Ukraine. However, despite American and Ukrainian optimism, the Kremlin has yet to fully commit to the plan, raising questions about whether Moscow sees the proposal as a genuine path to peace or a tactical maneuver.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the urgency of the talks, stating on March 12, “This trip is part of our continued efforts to press Russia to agree to a ceasefire and stop its brutal war against Ukraine.”

The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader strategy of engaging in high-stakes diplomacy rather than continuing the vast financial and military aid packages seen during President Joe Biden’s tenure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this approach, stating after the Jeddah talks, “The ball is now truly in their court,” referring to Russia’s responsibility to accept the terms of the ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the ceasefire proposal, seeing it as a step toward a possible resolution of the war. Writing on Telegram, he stated, “Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take this step. The United States of........

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