U.S. Urges Russia to Accept Ceasefire Deal in Ukraine

United Nations, May 30, 2025 — The United States has called on Russia to accept a proposed comprehensive ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, describing it as “Russia’s best possible outcome” and urging President Vladimir Putin to end the three-year war.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Acting Deputy U.S. Ambassador John Kelley said the United States is seeking a 30-day unconditional ceasefire covering land, air, sea, and critical infrastructure. Ukraine has already agreed to the proposal, while Russia has held back, citing unmet conditions.

“We want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict,” Kelley told the council. “The deal on offer now is Russia’s best possible outcome. President Putin should take the deal.”

President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January, has made ending the conflict in Ukraine a key foreign policy goal. Kelley said the ceasefire proposal is Washington’s first step toward a broader peace framework.

“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts,” Kelley warned. He also suggested that additional sanctions could be imposed on Moscow.

Kelley noted that after a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, the U.S. is expecting Moscow to submit a ceasefire term sheet. “We will judge Russia’s seriousness not just by the contents of that term sheet, but by Russia’s actions,” he added, criticizing recent Russian attacks as undermining the peace process.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had drafted a memorandum outlining its position, but Ukraine has yet to receive the proposal. Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council that Moscow remains committed to serious negotiations and proposed a second round of direct talks with Ukraine to be held Monday in Istanbul.

“The ball is in Ukraine’s court: either talks followed by peace, or the unavoidable defeat of Ukraine on the battlefield,” Nebenzia said.

Ukraine’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, however, accused Russia of lacking genuine intent to end the war. “Ukraine has consistently demonstrated commitment to diplomacy and remains open to any format that can yield tangible results,” she said, reiterating that Kyiv will not accept any territorial claims by Russia.

“We will not tolerate interference in sovereign decisions, including our defense or alliances,” Hayovyshyn added. “There must be no appeasement of the aggressor.”

The war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and triggered Europe’s most severe geopolitical crisis in decades.