Ukraine and allies discuss ways to pressure Russia into 30-day ceasefire

Ukraine has discussed ways to pressure Russia into agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire with U.S., French, British and German senior officials, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top aide said Thursday.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has discussed ways to pressure Russia into agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire with U.S., French, British and German senior officials, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top aide said Thursday, part of a flurry of diplomacy to try to end the war.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, did not say when the online talks with U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, France’s top diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne, Britain’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell and Guenter Sautter, a top adviser to the German leader, took place.

But he said all parties “emphasized that a complete and unconditional ceasefire should be the first step towards a just and sustainable peace.”

“We also discussed instruments of pressure in case Russia refuses the initiative or violates the agreements,” Yermak said on Telegram.

Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept a U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and has accused the Kremlin of ignoring the plan. Putin has proposed a ceasefire of only three days — from Thursday to Saturday.