Media: US, Europe finalising 30-day ceasefire proposal for Ukraine

The United States and its European partners are close to finalising a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with new sanctions against Russia set to follow should the plan be rejected, a French diplomatic source said on May 9.

The initiative, spearheaded by Washington and backed by key European capitals, comes amid frustration over Moscow’s lack of responsiveness to previous overtures, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 called for an “unconditional” 30-day halt to hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, warning that failure to adhere to the ceasefire would trigger further coordinated sanctions from the West.

Ukraine has signalled its willingness to accept the American proposal. At the same time, Russia has separately announced a limited three-day ceasefire from 8–10 May, coinciding with commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

“We're not completely with a finalised project, but we hope that we're at a moment of convergence,” the French diplomatic source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What could happen in the coming hours and days, there could be an announcement of a ceasefire either of 30 days or compartmentalized, which is still being discussed.”

Efforts to align positions have intensified in recent weeks. France, Britain and Germany have sought closer coordination with Washington, though they pushed back against certain aspects of previous U.S. proposals. According to documents reviewed by Reuters, European capitals offered counterproposals addressing issues ranging from territorial concerns to sanctions.

“We are reaching a point where we will not wait for a formal response from Moscow to a joint proposal to declare this ceasefire,” the source said.

Discussions are ongoing about whether to issue a unilateral ceasefire or set a brief deadline for Moscow to respond. Either way, a rejection would trigger new rounds of sanctions coordinated between the U.S. and the EU.

The French source noted that sanctions packages are synchronised between both sides of the Atlantic. “We felt in the discussions with the Americans a certain irritation towards the Russian posture, the lack of reactivity and seriousness in its responses to what was proposed before,” the source added. “The decision is practically taken.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who was in Washington last week for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, travelled to Ukraine on May 10.

A hybrid meeting involving Ukraine’s closest allies is expected to take place on May 10, where the proposed ceasefire will be a key topic. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed earlier in the day that France would participate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev