Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
US Secretary of State Rubio (right) and Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak meet in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, on March 11. (©Reuters)
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Ukraine agreed to a United States proposal for a "30-day ceasefire with Russia." The highly anticipated move came in a recent high-level meeting between US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In the wake of the agreement, military aid and intelligence sharing that the US had suspended were resumed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who continues his war of aggression, should unconditionally accept the ceasefire proposal.
US President Donald Trump said the prospects for a ceasefire now "depend on Russia." He also noted that the US "can put pressure on Russia."
Putin's Greedy Demands
Until Putin agrees to the ceasefire plan, the US should exert all possible pressure on him. That includes increasing military aid to Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia.
Russian forces launched a surprise attack in the Kursk Oblast, western Russia, that was partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. If Ukrainian forces are forced to withdraw completely from the region, Kiev will lose an important bargaining chip.
Putin has not abandoned any of his stated objectives in invading Ukraine. They are: permanently terminating Ukraine's ambition to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ("neutralization"), minimizing the size of Ukraine's military ("demilitarization"), and forcing it to abandon its anti-Russian policies ("denazification").
In addition, the Russian government now asserts new "necessary conditions" for a ceasefire. It demands that Ukraine recognize Russian sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula and the four eastern and southern regions of Ukraine that it has unilaterally annexed.
Russia's Weaknesses
However, Russia is suffering from inadequate troop strength and a stagnant economy. Putin should curb his greed and immediately accept the ceasefire proposal.
Trump, who pledged to end the war in Ukraine, has adopted a conciliatory stance toward Putin. In sharp contrast, he punished President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by cutting off military aid to Ukraine after their February 28 summit meeting broke down.
In the end, Ukraine rushed to repair its relationship with Washington and accepted the US ceasefire proposal. However, the proposal does not directly mention "security guarantees" that would be essential to prevent Russia from resuming its aggression. It was a painful concession for Ukraine to make.
The US should not pressure Ukraine into making further concessions. Instead, it should maximize military aid to Ukraine, help it recover on the battlefield, and force Putin to the negotiating table.
The joint statement issued after the high-level talks in Jeddah emphasized, "now is the time to begin a process towards lasting peace." However, Russia is still the aggressor that continues to violate international law and trample on the sovereignty and territory of a neighboring country. To achieve lasting peace, Russia must withdraw its troops.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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