Anti-Russian sentiment in the West is hindering the ceasefire process

However, he also stressed that one of the biggest obstacles to a peace deal is the anti-Russian sentiment spreading in the West.

Mr. Ushakov made the statement in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, recorded on April 17 and broadcast on April 19.

Asked whether he thought the US understood the “subtleties” of Russia’s view of a potential peace deal, Ushakov replied: “I think the US leadership, including the president, understands the root causes of the conflict.”

However, he also noted that “for years, even decades, an anti-Russian atmosphere has been building in the United States and Europe.”

“It is this atmosphere that is preventing the advancement of very reasonable ideas – which some leaders, including in Washington, actually agree with,” he said.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian military would implement a 30-hour ceasefire on the occasion of Easter, starting at 6 p.m. on April 19 (local time). Immediately after that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kiev would “act proportionately”.

The Trump administration has said it aims to broker a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible. Moscow, for its part, has said lasting peace can only be achieved if Ukraine abandons its bid to join NATO and drops its claims to Crimea and four other territories that voted to join Russia.

President Putin also said last month that, in order to achieve an effective ceasefire, Ukraine would need to stop receiving military aid from the West and withdraw its troops from areas of Russian territory it currently controls.

Both sides have accused each other of violating a 30-day truce brokered by the US last month.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on April 18 that time was running out for diplomacy, saying the Trump administration was prepared to “abandon this effort in the near future” if negotiations do not progress.