Ukraine is taking steps to monitor a possible ceasefire along its 1,300 km (800 miles) frontline with Russia. On Friday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister confirmed the plan. Meanwhile, a new survey revealed that half of Ukrainians oppose giving up land for peace.
US Pushes for Ceasefire, But Russia Delays Agreement
At the same time, US President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire deal. Washington negotiated this proposal with Ukraine. On Thursday, Putin welcomed the idea but immediately listed conditions. As a result, Moscow showed no sign of agreeing quickly. Consequently, Kyiv reacted with skepticism.
Ukraine Moves to Prevent Russian Provocations
To prevent Russian provocations, Ukraine is taking precautionary measures. Andrii Sybiha, a top Ukrainian official, announced that a special team will oversee monitoring efforts.
Earlier on Thursday, Sybiha posted on X, stating, “Putin seeks to continue the war. The rest of his words are just a smokescreen.” Notably, his statement aligned with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s response.
Ukraine Supports US Ceasefire Plan Despite Challenges
During a recent meeting with US officials in Saudi Arabia, Sybiha confirmed Ukraine’s support for Washington’s 30-day ceasefire proposal. However, he acknowledged that enforcing a truce would be difficult.
Looking back, Ukraine has struggled with previous ceasefires under the Minsk agreements. Germany and France backed these deals to resolve the Russian-supported insurgency in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Nevertheless, Russia now controls 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
Ukrainians Remain Divided on Peace Terms
Meanwhile, a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed mixed opinions. Half of Ukrainians firmly oppose surrendering land for peace. This percentage remained close to December’s 51%. On the other hand, 39% of respondents supported the idea.
