Ukrainian servicemen of the Skala regiment artillery unit fire an M109 howitzer toward Russian positions in eastern Donetsk
US President Donald Trump has demanded a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine after Vladimir Putin announced a three-day pause in fighting in May. The Kremlin said it expected Ukraine to reciprocate the ceasefire between May 8-10 and warned it would respond to any “violations”.
But Ukraine said Russia should have announced an immediate 30 day ceasefire if it “truly wants peace”.
The White House said Mr Trump, who is pushing for a peace deal to be agreed this week, wanted to see a “permanent ceasefire”.
It also warned the US president was becoming “increasingly frustrated” with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, was asked about Mr Trump’s meeting with Mr Zelensky at the weekend and she told reporters on Monday: “He thinks that he is increasingly frustrated with the leaders of both countries. He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire.
“The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed and while he remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he is also being realistic as well and both leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this…”
Putin’s ceasefire will cover Russia’s Victory Day on May 9 that marks the end of the Second World War.
