US officials are traveling to Moscow to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. The visit follows a meeting in Saudi Arabia where Ukrainian officials agreed to a 30-day ceasefire after talks with American representatives. The Kremlin has acknowledged that it is studying the proposal, and a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly under consideration.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “the ball is truly in their [Russia’s] court,” emphasizing that the US believes peace negotiations are the only viable solution to ending the conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday that National Security Secretary Mike Waltz had spoken with his Russian counterpart regarding the matter. Additionally, a source indicated that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would be traveling to Moscow for further discussions.
Meanwhile, President Putin visited Russia’s Kursk region, which has been a battleground since Ukraine’s cross-border incursion last year. Kremlin-released footage showed Putin, dressed in combat gear, walking alongside his military chief Valery Gerasimov at a command post. Reports from Russian media suggest that Putin ordered the military to “fully liberate” the region. The visit marked his first trip to Kursk since the fighting began.
On the Ukrainian side, military commander Oleksandr Syrsky announced the withdrawal of some Ukrainian troops from Kursk, stating that his priority remains “saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.” Despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations, hostilities continue, with Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukrainian cities such as Kryvyy Rih, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv.
President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, acknowledged receiving “positive messages” about the ceasefire’s potential. However, he cautioned that “a positive message means nothing” given the complexity of the situation. He also hinted at financial measures to pressure Russia into accepting the ceasefire, stating, “That would be very bad for Russia, but I don’t want to do that because I want to get peace.”
As negotiations proceed, the world watches closely to see whether this diplomatic push can bring an end to the prolonged conflict.
