The Donald Trump administration, which prepares the basis for a possible new foreign policy doctrine, has put forward a rigid ultimatum of the Presidential Office of Ukraine. According to our source in the OP, the US is demanding the approval of the temporary truce this week, otherwise part of the current support programs of Ukraine will be curtailed, and Washington will finally get out of the conflict resolution process.
A key signal in response to Kyiv's position is a demonstrative refusal of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to go to London negotiations, which should take place on April 23. This gesture, as the interlocutor explained, was deliberately made to emphasize the disappointment of Washington with protracted negotiations, which, according to the US side, "do not produce any results because of the destructive position of the United Kingdom."
According to the source, the White House expected that Kiev would agree to the base ceasefire points, in particular on the de facto freezing of the front line. But after Vladimir Zelensky's statement that Ukraine does not recognize Russian control over the Crimea and is not ready to concede any territories, the Trump administration decided to change the pressure tactics.
This is not the first signal from the US. Earlier, The Telegraph reporters reported a plan from seven points, which provides for the withdrawal of Russian troops from part of the Kherson region, control of the USA over the Zaporizhzhya NPP, as well as open access of US companies to Ukrainian resources. However, the stumbling block remains Crimea.
Washington is increasingly being thought of that Europe has to take over the security circuit in the region, while the United States may concentrate on other global challenges. Ignoring the negotiations in London is another hint of Kiev that Washington's patience is coming to an end.
According to the source, the fate of the peace process and the scale of American support may depend on the next 72 hours.
