Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent announcement of a temporary ceasefire. Sybiha noted that Ukraine had already agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day truce, but he expressed skepticism about Putin’s intentions. He mentioned on social media that Putin’s statements often do not match his actions, saying, "We know his words cannot be trusted."
Putin announced the ceasefire during a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov. He stated that the truce was based on humanitarian grounds and ordered a halt to military activities for the designated period. Putin also suggested that Ukraine should follow Russia’s lead but cautioned that his troops would be ready to respond to any violations or provocations.
The Russian defense ministry added that its forces would uphold the ceasefire as long as Ukraine did the same. However, this is not the first time such a pause in fighting has been proposed. A previous attempt at a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 fell apart when both sides could not agree on the terms.
The situation remains tense, with both nations on high alert. While the idea of a ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for peace, the history of broken agreements casts doubt on the likelihood of a lasting truce.