US slams Putin’s May 9 ceasefire proposal: 'Absurd'
Photo: Keith Kellogg, US Special Envoy to Ukraine (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a ceasefire with Ukraine on May 9 is absurd. A ceasefire must last at least 30 days, stated US Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
He noted that the United States had offered Ukraine "22 very specific actions" to end the war between the two countries, developed after frank, direct, and difficult negotiations with the Ukrainian side.
According to Kellogg, not all the ideas were well-received by Ukraine, but "nobody likes the final position" of a deal - that’s how negotiations usually go.
"And a 3-day ceasefire is absurd. What a President wants is a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire - sea, air, land, infrastructure - for a minimum of 30 days, and then we can extend it," the Special Envoy said.
He recalled that Ukraine had already agreed to such a proposal, and now it is Vladimir Putin’s turn to respond.
Putin’s proposal
On April 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a ceasefire from May 8 to 10. This is his second such proposal; the first was during the Easter holiday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by saying there’s no point in waiting until May 8 just to ensure a ceasefire during Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9.
He also emphasized that any ceasefire should last not just a few days, but at least 30, as proposed by the United States.
Meanwhile, Moscow continues to reject the idea of an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Minister recently stated that Moscow would only agree to such a step under two specific conditions.
