Russia plays hardball over a ceasefire deal as U.S. officials head to Moscow

U.S. negotiators are in Moscow for Ukraine war ceasefire talks on Thursday, but Russia's willingness to buy into the terms of a temporary truce devised without its input is still in question.

Russia is under pressure to sign up to the White House-brokered 30-day ceasefire agreement, which the U.S. says will show whether the Kremlin is serious about ending the war against Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the ball was in Russia's court after he and Ukrainian officials came up with a ceasefire deal earlier in the week. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that it would be financially "devastating" for Russia if it did not agree to a truce, hinting that more sanctions could be imposed on the country if it did not acquiesce.

But the mood music coming out of Moscow on Thursday ahead of the talks was not positive. Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov refrained from telling state media whether Russia will reject Trump's ceasefire deal, but noted that a truce would give Ukraine a chance to boost its forces.

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