Russia may try to reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine before May 9, when the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II will be marked, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said during a meeting of Ukraine's allies in Brussels, a BBC correspondent reported.
"For the Kremlin, dates are extremely important and it is probably aiming for some kind of deal, some kind of ceasefire or whatever, by that date," Pevkur told journalists.
According to information from the American publication Axios, Washington expects it to become clear within weeks, not months, whether Moscow is really seeking a peaceful solution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if a ceasefire agreement is not reached by the end of April, President Donald Trump may impose new sanctions against Russia.
In this regard, the White House special envoy Stephen Witkoff arrived in Russia, who, according to diplomatic sources, may meet in person with President Vladimir Putin.
According to various sources, the US has put pressure on Kiev, as a result of which Ukraine has accepted an immediate ceasefire. However, Russia has set additional conditions, including a halt to Ukraine's mobilization and an end to Western military aid to the Ukrainian armed forces.
These demands were deemed unacceptable by Kiev and its Western allies and beneficial only to Moscow, as they would effectively disarm Ukraine in the absence of guarantees from the Russian side.
Analysts note that May 9 is loaded with symbolic significance for Russia, and that achieving peace or at least a ceasefire by that date would be a domestic political success for the Kremlin, especially against the backdrop of ongoing fighting and economic pressure.
At the same time, the lack of consensus between the parties on the content of a possible agreement, as well as the discrepancies between the American and European strategies, create uncertainty about the real chance for lasting peace.
Diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, but in parallel, fighting in eastern Ukraine continues at a high intensity.