Russian presidential aide Yuriy Ushakov dismissed a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal on Thursday, calling it a mere “temporary respite” for Ukraine’s military rather than a path to lasting peace. The statement marks Moscow’s sharpest rebuke yet of the plan, which emerged from U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, where Kyiv agreed to a frontline pause.
In an interview with Russian state media, Ushakov revealed he’d discussed the ceasefire with U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz on Wednesday, underscoring Moscow’s stance.
READ: Trump Threatens Russia With ‘Devastating’ Financial Blows Over Ukraine Ceasefire
“This is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military and nothing more,” he said. “We believe that our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement. That is what we are striving for.”
The Kremlin has long opposed short-term truces, but Ushakov’s comments are the first high-level response since the Jeddah negotiations signaled a thaw in U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Ushakov also took a swipe at NATO, claiming both Russia and the U.S. agree it has no role in Ukraine’s future or any settlement—a position that could complicate Western support for Kyiv.
Russia has repeatedly vowed to block NATO troops on Ukrainian soil, a red line echoed when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked Wednesday about European peacekeepers, suggested “different ways to construct a deterrent on the ground” without elaborating.
READ: Ukraine Agrees To U.S.-Proposed 30-Day Ceasefire With Russia, Pending Kremlin Approval
The remarks coincide with a flurry of diplomatic moves. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Thursday that U.S. negotiators are en route to Moscow for Ukraine war peace talks, saying, “Indeed, negotiators are on their way, and contacts are planned.”
He kept details sparse, promising more later. Russian state news agency TASS reported that a plane carrying U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff touched down in Moscow Thursday morning, per FlightRadar24 data, setting the stage for direct U.S.-Russia discussions.
The ceasefire proposal, accepted by Ukraine after marathon talks in Jeddah, aimed to halt fighting across the entire frontline—a shift from Kyiv’s earlier resistance to territorial concessions.
The U.S. has since lifted its pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move seen as leverage to nudge Moscow to the table. But Ushakov’s rejection signals Russia’s intent to hold firm, favoring a broader deal over what it views as a tactical breather for its adversary.
READ: Moscow Thwarts Massive Ukrainian Drone Assault As U.S.-Ukraine Talks Loom
As Witkoff and his team prepare to meet Russian counterparts, the stakes are high. Moscow’s battlefield gains—holding roughly a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea—contrast with its insistence on a “long-term” resolution, leaving little room for compromise.
With negotiators now on Russian soil, the next moves could define whether this war inches toward peace—or digs in deeper.
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