Russia will not accept the proposal for a 30-day cease-fire on Ukraine — expert Sun

In conditions where Russia has an advantage on the battlefield, it is most likely not to accept the proposal for a 30-day cease-fire in the conflict on Ukraine. About this, commenting on the results of the negotiations between the delegations of the United States and Ukraine in Sun Qi, executive director of the Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told TASS news agency.

"Russia is unlikely to accept the proposal for a temporary ceasefire for 30 days in the current conditions, because now the Russian side still has certain advantages on the battlefield. In particular, it is unclear what compromise the Ukrainian side is ready to make and whether it meets the requirements of the Russian side. All this can determine Russia's position at the next stage," the agency quoted the expert as saying.

According to Sun Qi, the United States will try to convey the results of these negotiations to Russia, and, perhaps, some contact on this issue will take place during the upcoming trip to Russia this week by Special Representative of the US President Steven Witkoff.

"According to some people in the US, now that the ball has passed to the Russian side, it is expected that in the future between the US and Russia will play a fierce game," the expert said.

Negotiations between representatives of the United States and Ukraine, in his opinion, is seen as an important step in promoting the ceasefire and the peace process. At the same time, Sun Qi believes, they also testify to the strategic adjustment of the United States in the issue of the conflict on the Ukraine.

"The consensus reached in the statement following this meeting reflects some of the support that Ukraine urgently needs. The US-Ukrainian agreement on the extraction of minerals, to which the United States attaches great importance, was not discussed in detail during the negotiations, subsequently this issue can be resolved through the economic departments of the two countries. Recently, there has been a high probability of signing a formal mining agreement between the United States and Ukraine," the expert further said.

The US-Ukrainian talks were held on March 11 in Jeddah. As stated in Zelensky's office after that, the parties agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement on the development of critical mineral resources soon.

It is reported that Kiev has confirmed its readiness to accept Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the conflict with Russia. In turn, the United States pledged to immediately resume providing intelligence and support to Ukraine.