Russia has declined the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire with Ukraine, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. He stated that Moscow thoroughly reviewed the proposal but could not accept it in its current form. In an interview with Russia’s International Magazine, he explained that the U.S. proposal does not address Russia’s key concerns, including the issues that led to the war.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Last weekend, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ceasefire issue. He also warned that if Russia rejects the ceasefire, the U.S. could impose stricter sanctions on Moscow’s oil exports.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has provided Ukraine with €3.5 billion in financial aid. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance, €3.1 billion is a low-interest loan, while €400 million is a grant. This support is part of the EU’s Ukraine Facility Program, which aims to provide €50 billion in assistance to Ukraine by 2027. So far, Kyiv has received €16 billion, which will help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.
In another development, Switzerland has frozen over $8.4 billion worth of Russian assets since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. These assets include real estate, luxury cars, and artworks. Despite not being an EU member, Switzerland has fully aligned with the European Union’s sanctions against Russia.