US Rejects Putin's Ceasefire Proposal for Ukraine, Marking Continued Strain in Relations

The United States has reportedly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine to halt the ongoing conflict, according to three Russian sources familiar with the discussions. Despite signals sent by Putin in 2023, both publicly and through intermediaries, including Moscow's Arab partners, the U.S. refused the offer after contacts between the two nations' representatives.

This rejection marks the beginning of the third year of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, underscoring the considerable divide between the world's two largest nuclear powers. While Putin's suggestion aimed to freeze the conflict along current lines without relinquishing any Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, the U.S. insisted that talks must involve Ukraine for their consideration.

Contacts between Russia and the U.S. took place in late 2023 and early 2024, but they yielded no results, as per a senior Russian source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Another source indicated that the Americans communicated through intermediaries, asserting that they would only discuss a potential ceasefire if Ukraine participated, leading to the breakdown of the discussions.

The failure of these contacts has not been previously disclosed. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has been advocating for increased aid to Ukraine, facing resistance from allies of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.