Russia Advises Citizens Against Traveling to the West and Responds to Donald Trump’s Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal | World News
Russia has issued a travel advisory for its citizens, stating that tensions with the US are “on the brink of collapse.”
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, advised citizens on Wednesday to “avoid travel to the US, Canada, and certain EU countries” during the Christmas season.
She warned that travelers could be “pursued” by US authorities.
“Given the escalating tensions in Russian-American relations, which are nearing a breakdown due to Washington’s actions, traveling to the United States, whether for personal or official reasons, carries significant risks,” Ms. Zakharova stated.
She did not specify which EU nations were excluded from the travel advisories.
While travel warnings between Russia, the US, and other nations are commonplace, diplomats in both Moscow and Washington express that the current relationship is more strained than it has been since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, largely due to disagreements over the Ukraine conflict.
Relations became more strained last month following Ukraine’s use of US and British missiles to launch attacks deep within Russian territory and Russia lowering its nuclear threshold.
Both countries accused each other of detaining individuals on unfounded charges.
Russia unwilling to concede
Incoming US president Donald Trump has urged both nations to agree to an immediate ceasefire, claiming it is Vladimir Putin’s “time to act.”
On December 8, the president-elect requested an “immediate ceasefire”.
Referring to his rapport with Mr. Putin, he stated: “I know Vladimir well. This is his moment to take action. China can assist. The world is watching!”
(L-R) Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Pic: AP
During an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press, Mr. Trump did not confirm whether he had spoken with Russia’s leader since winning the election in November, stating he wanted to avoid “anything that might hinder the discussion.”
However, the ceasefire proposal marks the clearest attempt to tackle one of the globe’s significant crises before he assumes office on January 20. This approach contrasts with the Biden administration, which has been cautious about pressing Kyiv for an immediate truce.
In response to Mr. Trump’s comments on Wednesday, Ms. Zakharova expressed that Moscow was not prepared to make concessions regarding Ukraine, suggesting that anyone believing otherwise had “either a poor memory or insufficient understanding of the issue.”
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Trump’s plan to end the Ukraine war?
Furthermore, Ms. Zakharova indicated that Mr. Putin’s proposals for resolving the conflict—mainly Ukraine’s non-admittance into NATO and Russia asserting control over four Ukrainian regions—would need to be realized for peace to be achieved.
This follows remarks from Russia’s intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin, who stated that his country is nearing its objectives in Ukraine.
Mr. Naryshkin noted that Russia holds the initiative in all aspects and “the current situation is unfavorable for Kyiv”.
“We are nearing the completion of our objectives, while the Ukrainian armed forces teeter on the brink of collapse,” he claimed earlier this week.
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Initially, Russia aimed for a swift takeover of Ukraine upon its invasion in February 2022.
That ambition has faced significant challenges due to Ukraine’s formidable resistance; nonetheless, Moscow has made gradual progress in recent months, and Russian assaults throughout the nation continue to result in civilian casualties.
