A top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. He argued that it would only give Ukraine’s military a temporary break.

Yuri Ushakov, a former ambassador to Washington and a key foreign policy official, explained Russia’s position to the US. On Wednesday, he spoke with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and shared Moscow’s concerns.

"I stated our position that this is nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more," Ushakov told Reuters.

Furthermore, he emphasized that Russia wants a lasting peace agreement that protects its interests. "It seems to me that no one needs any steps that (merely) imitate peaceful actions in this situation," he added.

Russia Gains Strength on the Battlefield

Meanwhile, Moscow has made recent gains along the frontlines. At the same time, US President Donald Trump is pushing for a peace deal to end the three-year war. As a result, concerns are growing that Ukraine, despite Western support, may struggle to hold its ground.

According to Reuters, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet Putin. In addition, Russian officials confirmed that Waltz shared details of the ceasefire plan on Wednesday. They also stated that Russia remains open to discussions.

Trump Wants Russia to Accept Ceasefire

On Wednesday, Trump said he hoped Russia would accept the 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine had already approved. Speaking at the White House, he stressed his commitment to achieving peace.

Meanwhile, Ushakov, who has worked with Putin since 2012, revealed that Putin would address the media later that day. He planned to outline Russia’s stance in greater detail.

These remarks suggest that Moscow feels confident in negotiations due to its recent battlefield success in Ukraine and western Russia.

Trump Warns of Financial Consequences

If Russia rejects the ceasefire, it remains unclear how Trump will respond. However, on Wednesday, he insisted he had been tougher on Russia than previous US presidents.

"I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia," Trump said. "I don't want to do that because I want to get peace. I want to see peace and we'll see. But in a financial sense, yeah, we could do things very bad for Russia. It would be devastating for Russia."