"Russia's response, to put it mildly, is unsatisfactory, not to mention its mysteriousness and enigma," the Polish official said.
Fresh from a trip to Turkiye, Tusk noted that it is unclear whether Russia will agree to the previous proposal for a 30-day ceasefire or will put forward additional demands that "will be unacceptable to other partners."
“It’s good that after the Saudi Arabia talks, no one doubts who the aggressor and victim are in this war, or who genuinely wants a ceasefire and peace versus who wants to prolong it,” Tusk said, expressing hope that U.S., EU, and Ukrainian efforts could still yield a “good outcome.”
Earlier that day, Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed the ceasefire as a “respite for Ukrainian forces,” arguing Russia doesn’t need steps that “mimic peace moves.”
However, Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, cautioned that Ushakov’s words aren’t a formal rejection, as Vladimir Putin holds the final say.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the Kremlin is “ready to discuss” the U.S.-Ukraine initiative, with possible U.S. contacts “as early as today.”
A plane carrying Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff landed in Moscow on March 13. He is set to discuss the ceasefire with Putin, according to the White House.
The 30-day ceasefire idea emerged from March 11 Jeddah talks, where Ukraine agreed to it pending Russia’s assent, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirming Kyiv’s readiness and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noting it would be conveyed to Moscow via multiple channels.