Kyiv and Moscow are ‘dancing for Trump’: who disrupted the ceasefire — Washington decides

Ukraine and Russia are both trying to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that it’s the other side sabotaging peace efforts.

This information reported according to a report by Politico.

Amid a fragile truce that involves energy infrastructure and the Black Sea, both sides are trading accusations—hoping Trump’s anger won’t fall on them.

“We are ready for a ceasefire. But you will see that Putin is not,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also called on Trump to increase sanctions pressure on Russia rather than ease it.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Maria Zakharova, blames the “neo-Nazi regime” in Kyiv, accusing Ukraine of terrorism and attacks on civilians.

Analysts note that both sides are putting on a “performance” for Washington. However, doubts are growing in Kyiv about how much Trump actually cares to investigate the situation.

Trump Pressures Ukraine

Since the start of his new term, Trump has not initiated any new aid packages for Ukraine. The main form of support has been intelligence sharing—critical for warning of Russian strikes. Even that channel was temporarily frozen by the U.S. president to use as leverage.

Furthermore, according to the Financial Times, Washington offered Kyiv a deal regarding access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. The proposal includes no security guarantees or financial assistance, but gives the U.S. de facto control over the country’s resources. In private conversations, Ukrainian officials reportedly refer to this as “blackmail.”

Kyiv’s Resistance and Caution

Ukraine is increasingly resisting U.S. pressure. Ukrainian MP Volodymyr Vyatrovych stated, “We’re not just a land with useful resources. This is a state with an army and a society ready to defend itself.”

Zelensky, having received a cool reception at the White House, is trying not to escalate tensions. “We need to act pragmatically and with restraint,” he said, commenting on the controversial deal. Ukraine is trying to avoid giving the U.S. any excuse to halt aid or cut off intelligence sharing.

High Stakes for Both Sides

According to U.S. intelligence assessments, both Kyiv and Moscow are open to limited negotiations but see the risks of a bad peace deal as greater than a prolonged war. Russia is leveraging its battlefield gains, while Ukraine fears domestic unrest if it makes concessions without guarantees.

Given Trump’s position on NATO, Kyiv is shifting its focus toward Europe. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to exert most of its pressure on Ukraine.

Peace Efforts and Accusations

Ukraine emphasizes that it is not obstructing peace. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Kyiv agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal for a full ceasefire, but Russia put forward unacceptable conditions.

At the same time, both sides accuse each other of violating the truce. Russia reports drone strikes, while Kyiv reports eight attacks on its energy systems since Putin promised to stop such actions.

Whom Will Trump Believe?

In Kyiv, there are growing fears that Trump is leaning more toward Moscow’s position. “If America has chosen to be neutral, let that neutrality not be closer to the Kremlin,” Zelensky said. When asked who is closer to Trump—himself or Putin—Zelensky replied, “It’s hard for me to say… I don’t have a close enough relationship with Trump to understand how close he is to Putin.”