US and EU demand a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine: new sanctions if Russia refuses

The United States and the European Union are finalizing work on a plan for a temporary cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. It is a 30-day ceasefire, which is intended to provide an opportunity to review diplomatic approaches and reduce escalation. If Russia refuses to support the initiative, international partners promise to introduce a new package of coordinated sanctions against the Kremlin. This was reported by Reuters, citing sources in diplomatic circles.

On May 8, US President Donald Trump officially called for an unconditional month-long ceasefire. He emphasized that if Russia does not support this initiative, it will face stricter economic restrictions. The Ukrainian authorities immediately confirmed their readiness to observe the ceasefire. In return, Moscow responded only partially - by introducing a three-day regime of silence from May 8 to 10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

EU diplomatic circles note that the final parameters of the initiative are still being agreed upon. A French Foreign Ministry official said that the parties are considering a phased or partial ceasefire. Possible options include a unilateral declaration of a ceasefire by the US and EU, or giving Russia a short deadline for an official response.

If Moscow ignores or openly rejects the peace proposal, a new package of sanctions will be automatically activated. Its content is currently being agreed at the technical and political levels between Washington and European capitals. The main goal is to ensure a coordinated response to any form of sabotage of the peace process by the Russian Federation.

European diplomats also express growing frustration with the Kremlin’s lack of a constructive response to previous attempts at de-escalation. During informal talks with the US, EU representatives stressed that further delay would only complicate the diplomatic settlement process and exacerbate the situation on the international stage.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Ukraine on Saturday to finalize discussions on the ceasefire initiative. A hybrid meeting of international allies will take place in Kyiv to finalize a joint strategy for advancing the peace plan and further steps in the event of a failure of the agreements.