A Ceasefire on Moscow’s Terms? How Russia Stands to Gain from Trump’s Ukraine Truce

Peace Offer or Strategic Trap?

Despite the ceasefire initiative being publicly championed by Washington, evidence suggests it was actually Moscow that ordered the move. Russian President Vladimir Putin had indicated willingness to pause the conflict on his terms well before the U.S. got on board – as early as May 2024, he was “ready to halt the war… with a negotiated ceasefire” that would freeze current battle lines (Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines | Reuters). One senior Kremlin insider at the time affirmed Putin was prepared “to freeze the war” to solidify Russia’s gains if necessary (Reuters). This approach aligns with the Kremlin’s long-standing strategy of using ceasefires as a tactical tool: Moscow has often treated agreements as temporary expedients and violated them when convenient (Russia’s Road to a Renewed Offensive: Timeline and Strategic Challenges" - Robert Lansing Institute), seeking truces chiefly to regroup and fortify its position rather than to achieve lasting peace.…