Serbian leader: Trump may offer Christmas truce to Russia, Ukraine if elected

If Republican Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, he may launch an initiative for a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during the Christmas holidays, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

According to Vucic, Trump's approach to resolving the conflict in Ukraine will differ from the plans of his rival Kamala Harris, but even if she is elected, she will have to reduce support for Ukraine, "because the American people no longer want it, and she will have to reduce it," Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"Trump will try to gradually attract Russians through a truce and other relations so that they do not remain completely alone with China, this is strategic. And before that, I guess I have no proof, but I have a feeling that his proposal will be some kind of Christmas truce... from December 23 to January 8, about 15 days, and it would be a huge success. The question is whether the Russians will agree to this," Vucic said and stressed that the Russian military now has "the initiative on all sectors of the front, tactical and strategic."

The Serbian leader noted that "with all due respect, Ukrainians cannot do without the help of the United States."

Russia believes that arms supplies to Ukraine interfere with the settlement and directly involve NATO countries in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Kyiv will become a legitimate target for Russia.

According to him, the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict, including not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and other countries. The Kremlin stated that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to negotiations.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Putin called its goal "to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years." He noted that the special operation was a forced measure, Russia "was left with no chance to act otherwise, security risks were created such that it was impossible to react by other means."

According to him, Russia has been trying for 30 years to reach an agreement with NATO on the principles of security in Europe, but in response, it faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts of pressure and blackmail, while the alliance, despite Moscow's protests, is steadily expanding and approaching the borders of the Russian Federation.

For the record, the US 2024 presidential election is set to take place on November 5, 2024. Voters across the country will decide whether to re-elect the incumbent Democratic administration or support a new president. This election holds significant political weight, especially as current Vice President Kamala Harris, potentially representing the Democratic Party, faces off against former President Donald Trump, who is a likely candidate for the Republicans. 

The election will include not only the presidential race but also various congressional seats, with all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 US Senate seats up for grabs. Local and state elections will also be held, affecting governors, mayors, and other local positions. Early voting, mail-in ballots, and absentee voting options are also available, allowing voters to participate ahead of Election Day.

By Khagan Isayev