With US leadership and European support we Ukrainians may at last have peace. But don’t let Russia off the hook | Andriy Yermak
GuardianMAR 9
US Resumes Aid to Ukraine as Kyiv Agrees to 30-Day Cease-fire
Above: An American delegation led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a meeting with Ukrainian senior officials hosted by Saudi officials in Jeddah on March 11, 2025. Image copyright: Salah Malkawi/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
This cease-fire proposal represents a masterful negotiating strategy by the Trump administration — forcing both sides toward peace by leveraging American military aid. This diplomatic breakthrough could lead to Trump's legacy-defining achievement and demonstrates the effectiveness of pressure tactics in achieving peace deals.
Anti-Russia narrative
A US-brokered cease-fire is just the first step to finally halt the ever-escalating Russia's decade-long aggression against Ukraine and reach a fair and enduring peace in the region. Europe must be prepared to keep further financial and political pressure on Moscow and to develop a credible deterrence against the Kremlin.
Pro-Russia narrative
America really wants a cease-fire, so Ukraine's proxy of the West, Pres. Zelenskyy, must act as if he's willing to negotiate while attacking Russia. If he can shift responsibility for the breakdown of negotiations to Moscow, the better for him. A temporary truce isn't in the best interest of Russia, and he knows that.