**Trump Sees Potential Progress in Ukraine Peace Efforts**
US President Donald Trump has expressed cautious optimism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House on May 5, Trump characterized the brief truce as a significant step towards peace negotiations.
While some might see the three-day ceasefire as just a short pause in the fighting, Trump believes it’s a “lot” compared to previous Russian positions. Putin announced his proposal for a “humanitarian truce” from May 7-9, coinciding with Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations. This falls short of the calls from Kyiv and Washington for a complete 30-day ceasefire.
**Ukrainian President Dismisses Putin’s Proposal**
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was less than impressed by Putin’s announcement, calling it a “theatrical performance” rather than a serious move towards peace. This skepticism is not unfounded, given the history of broken truces and failed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
**Oil Prices and a Favorable Settlement**
Trump believes that the current low oil prices give Russia an incentive to settle the conflict peacefully. He pointed out that with oil prices down, “I think we’re in a good position to settle.” This is a welcome change from his earlier frustration with Russia’s cooperation in peace talks.
**A Pattern of Behavior?**
Putin has announced truces before, including one during Easter earlier this year. That truce was widely seen as a media stunt aimed at appeasing Trump, rather than a genuine attempt to end the conflict. Ukraine reported that Russia broke its Easter ceasefire almost 3,000 times within just 30 hours.
**A Long Way to Go**
While Trump’s optimism is encouraging, it’s clear that there’s still a long way to go before a lasting peace can be achieved in Ukraine. Kyiv has been willing to begin a full 30-day ceasefire since early March, but Russia has refused unless Ukraine agrees to give up territory and foreign military aid.
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