[1andrew1]

Will be interesting to see how Russia reacts now that Ukraine has called its bluff.

Ball in Russia's court after Ukraine accepts proposal for 30-day ceasefire, Rubio says

Following today's talks in Saudi Arabia, US secretary of state Marco Rubio says "the ball is now in Russia's court" after Ukraine said it will accept a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire...

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer hailed a "remarkable breakthrough" between Kyiv and Washington.

"We now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible," he added.

We've also heard from Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said: "It seems like the Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace.

"And Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace."

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-w...atest-12541713

And interesting analysis here

A more compelling reason as to why Russia favours a permanent deal over a temporary one is because Ukrainian forces are on the back foot. A pause in the fighting would give them time to regroup, so why would Moscow agree?

It wants to have Kyiv begging for mercy when it comes to the negotiating table, so that a permanent deal would be entirely in Russia's favour.

The problem for Vladimir Putin, though, is that he now has to put his money where his mouth is.

In order to win Donald Trump's favour, the Kremlin has been relentless in trying to cast itself as the peacemaker and Ukraine as the warmonger.

It's worked up until to this point, with America increasingly siding with Russia. But now, all of a sudden, Kyiv is calling Moscow's bluff.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-w...atest-12541713