Bloomberg: Trump targets April 20 for Ukraine ceasefire, but progress remains slow

The United States remains hopeful that a broad ceasefire in Russia’s war in Ukraine can be achieved within weeks, even as hostilities persist and the Kremlin shows little urgency in reaching an agreement ahead of planned negotiations.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the White House is aiming for a truce agreement by April 20, coinciding with Easter celebrations in both Western and Orthodox churches. However, officials acknowledge that the timeline may be delayed due to the significant differences between the positions of Moscow and Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports via Bloomberg.

Efforts to broker a resolution have gained renewed attention as former President Donald Trump, who has long pledged a quick end to the conflict, seeks to mediate a ceasefire. Progress remains limited, but U.S. officials are set to hold separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. This marks the first parallel negotiations of their kind since the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“I believe we’re going to pretty soon have a full ceasefire,” Trump told reporters on March 21 when asked about ongoing attacks, despite an agreement to limit strikes on energy infrastructure that he announced following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the week.

On March 22, Trump emphasized that efforts to prevent further escalation were “under control” and highlighted his positive relationships with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders. However, Russia has maintained its hardline stance, demanding an end to Western arms supplies to Ukraine as a condition for any ceasefire—a demand that Kyiv and its allies have firmly rejected.

Meanwhile, hostilities continue unabated. Russia has intensified its drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, resulting in civilian casualties, including at least three people killed in a strike on Kyiv early morning of March 23. Ukraine has responded with its own air assaults, targeting a Russian military airbase and a command center.

By Khagan Isayev