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Ukraine has offered Russia a new round of peace talks this week in a renewed push to secure a ceasefire.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, President Trump recently set the clock on a 50-day ultimatum for Russia to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine, warning that failure to do so will trigger sweeping economic consequences. Under this deadline, the US plans to impose secondary sanctions targeting any country that continues to trade with Moscow, effectively isolating Russia from global markets. At the same time, Trump has authorized the resumption of advanced weapons shipments to Ukraine, routed through NATO allies. Some speculate that if Russia’s economy begins to collapse under the weight of these secondary sanctions, it could force President Putin to negotiate an end to the war—or, in a more extreme scenario, destabilize his grip on power by triggering domestic unrest or elite defections.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv has formally offered Russia a new round of peace talks to be held next week, marking the most recent attempt to revive diplomatic efforts after negotiations stalled in early June. In a televised evening address to the nation, Zelenskyy called for the need to reengage with Russia, stating, “Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire. The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions.”
The renewed proposal was officially delivered by Rustem Umerov, the newly appointed head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who previously led the Ukrainian delegation during two earlier rounds of talks in Istanbul.
Ukraine’s proposal comes after the previous rounds of talks broke down over what Ukraine and its allies described as unrealistic Russian demands. During those negotiations, Russian officials called for Ukraine to give up four occupied regions and to renounce all forms of Western military support, terms that Zelenskyy’s government rejected outright. Russia has maintained that Ukraine must recognize the “reality on the ground,” which Russia argues is in their favor.
