Bangladesh, March 14 -- For the first time since President Donald Trump began his second term in January and launched a concerted effort to end the war in Ukraine, it is Russia-not Ukraine-that faces mounting pressure from Washington to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace negotiations. With US officials set to arrive in Moscow on March 12, following Ukraines agreement to a US-backed 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Saudi Arabia, the key question remains: Will Russia accept the deal?

A straightforward rejection-“nyet”-is certainly a possibility. However, it is not an inevitable outcome. While Moscows official rhetoric suggests an aversion to any temporary halt in hostilities, geopolitical analysts believe that ...