US hopes for Ukraine ceasefire in weeks despite intensified Russian strikes

The US administration hopes to achieve a broad ceasefire in Ukraine within weeks, even as Moscow intensifies strikes on Ukrainian cities and signals reluctance to reach an agreement, Bloomberg reports.

According to sources cited by the outlet, the White House is pushing for a ceasefire deal by April 20, a date that coincides with Easter celebrations in both Western and Orthodox churches this year. However, Washington acknowledges that the timeline may shift due to the significant differences between the parties’ positions.

In the coming days, US officials are set to hold separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia, marking the first parallel negotiations of this kind.

The discussions will focus on the technical details of a 30-day ceasefire agreement, an initiative put forward by President Donald Trump. The proposed deal includes halting strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“I hope we will have a full ceasefire very soon,” Trump told reporters on Friday.

Bloomberg notes that Russia has set maximalist demands for the ceasefire agreement, including an end to Western military aid to Ukraine.

According to the agency’s sources, the White House has not agreed to any such restrictions at this stage.