The United States, alongside its European allies, is in the final stages of drafting a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. If Moscow refuses to accept the terms, Washington and the European Union are expected to impose new sanctions against Russia, according to a French diplomatic source cited by Reuters.
Immediate Ceasefire Demand
On Thursday, President Donald Trump called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. He warned that failure to comply would result in additional punitive measures from the U.S. and its allies.
Ukraine has indicated its readiness to accept the U.S. proposal, while Russia has announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire from May 8–10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
“We are not entirely at a finalized draft, but we hope we are at a moment of convergence,” said the French diplomatic source, speaking anonymously. “In the coming hours or days, an announcement could be made—either a full 30-day ceasefire or one divided into phases, which is still under discussion.”
Transatlantic Coordination
France, the UK, and Germany have intensified their coordination with the U.S. in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, these European powers objected to some aspects of the American ceasefire proposal, offering alternatives concerning territorial issues and sanctions strategy.
“We are nearing a point where we may not wait for an official Russian response to a joint ceasefire initiative,” the source stated. The options being weighed include a unilateral declaration or giving Moscow a brief deadline to respond. Should Russia refuse, a new round of sanctions will be triggered by the U.S. and the EU.
Both sides are now coordinating their next sanctions packages against Moscow, which are expected to target key sectors and political figures.
High-Level Diplomacy
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington last week, visited Ukraine on Friday along with 17 foreign ministers from EU and UK member states.
A meeting of Ukraine’s closest allies is scheduled for Saturday, where the joint U.S.-EU ceasefire proposal will be discussed in further detail. French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed he will attend the meeting in hybrid format.
According to the French diplomatic source, political and technical discussions between the U.S. and European countries have significantly intensified in recent days. Trump and Macron held a call Thursday evening to review the proposal in detail.
“In our talks with the Americans, we sensed growing frustration with Russia’s stance, its lack of responsiveness, and its unserious approach to past proposals. The decision is practically made,” the source concluded.
