Russia rejected the United States-brokered ceasefire agreement for the war in Ukraine.
Yuri Ushakov, a high-level aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, dismissed the bid as a move to help Ukraine regroup while it’s on the back foot. Ukraine agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal developed during talks in Saudi Arabia. Ushakov told the news channel Russia-1 that he had already explained Moscow’s position to national security adviser Mike Waltz.
“I, naturally, commented on the agreements reached on a temporary truce and stated our position that this is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more,” he said, Tass reported.
“We believe that our goal is still a long-term, peaceful settlement. We are striving for this, a peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our side, our concerns are known. It seems to me that no one needs such steps that imitate peaceful actions in this situation,” Ushakov added.
The announcement comes amid the quickest territorial change in the war since Ukraine’s Kursk offensive in August. In an operation that sent Russian troops behind Ukrainian lines by utilizing a gas pipeline, Russian forces have begun rapidly pushing Ukrainian forces out of their salient within Russia.
The ceasefire was negotiated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after hours of talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Waltz represented the U.S., while Ukraine was represented by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Head of Presidential Office Andrii Yermak.
It called for an immediate, 30-day cessation of hostilities across Ukraine. During this period, the U.S. would mediate discussions on extending the ceasefire, aiming for a lasting peace.
Ceasefires are often viewed with skepticism in Ukraine and Russia. The Minsk I and Minsk II ceasefire agreements during the 2014-2015 Donbas War were repeatedly violated by both sides.
The rejection had been expected. The image-conscious Putin made his first public appearance since the ceasefire announcement in military fatigues, visiting military headquarters in Kursk on Wednesday. It was the first time he was pictured in military garb since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Rubio hoped the Russians would accept the ceasefire deal as a “goodwill gesture.” However, the Russian military analyst Telegram channel Rybar, which has connections with the Russian Defense Ministry, derided the proposal as “mocking.”
Speaking with top generals Wednesday, Putin said that Ukrainian soldiers captured in Kursk would be treated as terrorists, accusing them of crimes against civilians.
“Our immediate goal is as soon as possible to conclusively destroy the enemy entrenched on the territory of Kursk region,” the Russian president said.
Ukrainian and Russian news outlets reported that, facing encirclement, Ukrainian forces began withdrawing from Kursk earlier this week.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi appeared to admit to the withdrawal in a statement, saying that “units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, if necessary, will maneuver to more advantageous positions.”
The rapid fall of Sudzha came as a shock to many Russians as soldiers and commanders alike feared that the battle for the city would be the bloody climax of the Kursk campaign, possibly taking months. Instead, it fell in about three days. Russia declared Sudzha fully retaken on Thursday.
Russian soldiers were seen brandishing the Russian, airborne, Wagner, and Russian Imperial flags in the center of Sudzha on Wednesday. Isolated pockets of Ukrainian troops are believed to be trapped in areas across the city.
US ENVOY WITKOFF TO TRAVEL TO RUSSIA THIS WEEK FOR NEGOTIATIONS
While Ukrainian news outlets insisted on an orderly withdrawal, dozens of videos showed the chaotic retreat of Ukrainian troops and vehicles. Russian artillery, aviation, and first-person drones covered the road out of Sudzha, devastating vehicles, equipment, and soldiers.
U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff will travel to Moscow this week for high-level peace discussions with the Russians.
