US President Donald Trump has said officials are currently heading to Russia, in an effort to press Moscow to agree to a possible ceasefire with Ukraine.
This comes after Ukraine said on Tuesday that it is open to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia following talks with senior US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, while meeting with Irish Taoiseach Michéal Martin in the Oval Office, Trump said that representatives are "going to Russia right now as we speak" to discuss the proposal.
"Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia. If we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible blood bath (to end)," he said.
The president hinted at imposing new sanctions on Russia, saying: “We can, but I hope it’s not going to be necessary,” as ITV News’ International Editor, Emma Murphy and Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen explains.
The US hopes Russia will halt attacks on Ukraine in the coming days as a first step to peace.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that it is important not to “get ahead” of the question of responding to the US-proposed ceasefire.
He told reporters that Moscow is waiting for “detailed information” from the US and suggested Russia must receive it before taking a position.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that a 30-day ceasefire would allow the sides “to fully prepare a step-by-step plan for ending the war, including security guarantees for Ukraine".
Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that technical questions on monitoring a truce along the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line, where small but deadly drones are common, are “very important".
Also, US arms deliveries to Ukraine resumed on Wednesday, officials said, a day after the Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid for Kyiv in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
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