Ukraine’s 30-Day Ceasefire

On face value, it appears that the US stopping arms supplies and intelligence sharing to Ukraine for just one day made President Volodymyr Zelensky agree to the 30-day Ukraine truce proposal by the POTUS Donald Trump. But actually, there is much more to it. Zelensky’s Kursk offensive fizzled out with Russian troops moving 15-km inside a gas pipeline and surprising Ukrainian forces which possibly include scores of western mercenaries as well. After the spat with Trump in the White House on February 28, 2025, Zelensky went around Europe and Britain successfully rallying funds, support and arms although he remains short of manpower and has lowered the age for military registration to 14 years.

Trump’s missive to Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the 30-day ceasefire was accompanied with threats that he could unleash more severe economic sanctions that would be devastating for Russia if Moscow would not cooperate on the ceasefire deal. Trump’s message to Putin was concurrent with the US resuming intelligence sharing and arms supplies to Ukraine. Most significantly, the US has resumed shipments of long-range Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine amid Ukraine facing a critical shortage of the long-range ATACM missiles. The upgraded munitions of the GLSDB (developed by Saab and Boeing) have a range of approximately 100 miles (161 km), which can counter Russian jamming and provide Ukraine with enhanced strike capabilities to attack Russia. 

Trump’s sudden change of attitude towards Russia is being attributed to multiple factors, like: accusations at home for being a Russian stooge; severe criticism against stopping support to Ukraine - soul of America’s deep state has subdued Trump; hundreds of US diplomats taking a stand on USAID; Trump forced to go to court in the case of birthright US citizenship; India made a quick U-Turn after Trump threatened BRICS but Russia-China have cocked a snook at Trump over BRICS; frustration over America’s Gulf allies nixing Trump’s plan to kick out all Palestinians from Gaza and establishing an American Riviera; China-Russia-Iran nuclear talks amid Trump’s threats to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In addition to the above, it is quite possible that Zelensky may have hinted to Trump he is amenable to Trump’s proposal to gain part control of Ukraine’s rare earth metals, although believing Zelensky is trusting a viper – akin to what Kissinger said about the US, using differing words. However, it now appears  that Trump is not looking at lasting peace in Ukraine, but to keep extracting maximum benefits for the US in the temporary periods of truce and resumption of hostilities – same as in the case of Gaza (https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/op-eds/the-gaza-takeover-plan/).  

It takes no intelligence to decipher that this whole idea of 30-day ceasefire has emanated from Zelensky, sponsored and buoyed by the Nazi cabal of the EU and the nuclear tail-wagging of Emmanuel Macron (France) and Keir Starmer (Britain). More important is to acknowledge that till the twerp Zelensky is deposed, no peace is possible in Ukraine. With the US already supplying GSLDB to Ukraine, the 30-day ceasefire implies Ukraine-EU-NATO regrouping for a bloodier war to follow, pumping more mercenaries into Ukraine under the pretext of humanitarian aid and getting Ukrainian prisoners out from Kursk. The Ukraine-EU-NATO regrouping would mean Russia facing a much more formidable enemy than since the outbreak of hostilities in 2023.

Putin has said, “We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities. But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis.” Putin has further said that “there are issues that need to be discussed” before he could sign off on a 30-day truce. These include whether Ukraine can receive arms and personnel during this time, what happens to Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, and who should monitor possible violations at the front. Trump has responded by saying that Putin’s latest comments were “very promising” but not “complete” and that he would “love to meet with him or talk to him.”

Wonder if Trump is aware of the message Putin gave to Europe when he was allowed to speak on Croatian TV, saying, "Russia has never been and will never be your enemy! We do not want European raw materials and wealth, we have our own raw materials and wealth, we absolutely do not need your raw materials. Russia is the richest country in the world in terms of raw materials. We do not want your land or your territory. Look at how wide Russia is on the map. Russia is twice the size of the whole of Europe in one place. What would we need your land for, what do we do with it? Why do you think Russia is an enemy of Europe? What damage has Russia done to you?  Have we sold you gas and raw materials at lower prices than the prices at which your "friends" are currently selling you? Did Russia sacrifice 20 million people in World War II to get rid of the Nazis?  Was Russia the first country to help Europe during the Covid pandemic?  Did we help Europe when there were fires and natural disasters? What has Russia done to you that you hate it so much?  Russia is not your enemy; your real enemies are your leaders, those who lead you!”

Now the question is whether Trump is prepared to address the issues raised by Putin, particularly eliminating the root cause of why the hostilities began in the first place, aside from the other concerns like can he guarantee no western arms supply and manpower to Ukraine in the ceasefire period? Zelensky, in his usual idiotic fashion, is going around saying that if Russia doesn’t agree to the 30-day ceasefire, it would imply Moscow wants to continue the war – a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Finally, does Trump fully realize the implications of the 30-day ceasefire, which appears to have been contrived by Zelensky in league with the Nazi cabal of Europe and Britain (with European and British leaders placing their own interests over respective populations), which has the potential of fuelling the war to unprecedented levels after the proposed temporary ceasefire is over. If not, then he has probably fallen into the trap laid by America’s deep state and may end up as Joe Biden 2.0 or even worse in terms of warmongering.

The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal.