The administration of US President Donald Trump has informed European officials that it aims to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, which falls on 20 April this year.

Source: Bloomberg, citing informed sources, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "The Trump administration has told European officials that it wants to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, according to people briefed on the conversations."

Details: Some sources told the agency that the pace of negotiations set to begin this week in Saudi Arabia, involving senior US and Russian officials, is ambitious and potentially unrealistic.

One source noted that achieving a settlement by the end of this year is a far more likely scenario.

Last week, Donald Trump launched his peace initiative with a call to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and shocked European officials when his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, stated that Europeans would be responsible for security guarantees and peacekeeping forces needed to ensure Ukraine’s security after an agreement is reached.

The agency now reports that European officials are working on a new major package aimed at increasing defence spending and supporting Kyiv.

Spending plans will not be announced before the German elections on 23 February to avoid sparking controversy ahead of the vote, officials familiar with these plans stated.

For reference: In 2025, Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics and Roman Catholics will celebrate Easter on the same day, 20 April.

Background: 

• Several EU leaders were invited to Paris on Monday, 17 February, to begin formulating their response after US officials made it clear that there are limits to what the United States is willing to do.
• An official familiar with the preparations revealed that these talks will focus on Ukraine and the security guarantees that European countries can agree on immediately to ensure that Europe is not sidelined in the peace negotiations.
• Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s representatives are set to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday, 16 February, for talks with Russia.
• Reuters reported that the US has asked European capitals what they need from Washington in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine.

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