https://arab.news/25uat
- Threatens to step back as mediator if Russia makes wrong choice
- Moscow responds that the ball is in Kyiv鈥檚 court now
UNITED NATIONS: The United States told the UN Security Council on Thursday that its proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine was 鈥淩ussia鈥檚 best possible outcome鈥� and President Vladimir Putin should take the deal.
The United States wants Russia to agree to a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire. A first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire 鈥� which Moscow has said is impossible to achieve before certain conditions are met.
鈥淲e want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict,鈥� Acting Deputy US Ambassador John Kelley told the Security Council. 鈥淭he deal on offer now is Russia鈥檚 best possible outcome. President Putin should take the deal.鈥�
US President Donald Trump began his second term in January vowing to swiftly end Russia鈥檚 three-year-old war in Ukraine. Kelley said the first US step was to put forward a proposal for an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire, which had been accepted by Ukraine, pending Russia鈥檚 agreement.
鈥淪ince then, we have been urging Russia to accept a ceasefire,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict,鈥� he warned, adding that Washington could also impose further sanctions on Russia.
Kelley said that after Trump and Putin spoke by phone last week, Russia was now expected to provide a term sheet broadly outlining its vision for a ceasefire in the conflict, which began when Moscow invaded its neighbor in February 2022.
鈥淲e will judge Russia鈥檚 seriousness toward ending the war, not only by the contents of that term sheet, but more importantly, by Russia鈥檚 actions,鈥� said Kelley, condemning Russia鈥檚 recent attacks on Ukraine as not demonstrating 鈥渁 desire for peace.鈥�
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow had drafted a memorandum outlining a settlement position in the Ukraine war. But Ukraine said Moscow has not yet shared its proposal.
Russia鈥檚 UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow intended to continue serious, direct negotiations with Ukraine. Russia has suggested a second round of direct talks take place on Monday in Istanbul.
鈥淭he ball is in Ukraine鈥檚 court: either talks, followed by peace, or the unavoidable defeat of Ukraine on the battlefield with different conditions for the conflict鈥檚 end,鈥� Nebenzia told the Security Council.
Ukraine鈥檚 Deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia was 鈥渘ot signaling any genuine intention to stop its war鈥� and urged countries to impose stronger sanctions on Moscow.
鈥淯kraine has consistently demonstrated commitment to diplomacy and remains open to any format that can yield tangible results,鈥� she said, but added that Kyiv would never recognize Russia鈥檚 claim to any occupied Ukrainian territory.
鈥淲e will not tolerate interference in sovereign decisions, including our defense or alliances. There must be no appeasement of the aggressor. Such attempts only embolden future aggression,鈥� Hayovyshyn told the council.