SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The war between Russia and Ukraine could be closer to seeing the end. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in return for the United States’ financial support again.
It is now up to Russia to accept a truce in putting an end to the war.
On Wednesday, 28/22 News spoke with a local Ukrainian who is remaining positive on the latest news out of his home county.
Alex Groysman, founder of Scranton 4 Ukraine, is wary about what’s to come in Ukraine’s war with Russia.
He feels the ceasefire deal is a step in the right direction, but doesn’t trust Russia after its long history with these kind of deals.
Standing outside Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Scranton on Wednesday, Groysman is staying positive about his home country’s latest deal with the United States.
“I’m hopeful, but cautiously hopeful,” Groysman said.
Groysman was born in Kyiv and is now a founder of the non-profit association Scranton 4 Ukraine. It holds race events throughout the year to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees.
He says the ceasefire deal is a good start and puts pressure on Russia, but there needs to be more certainty.
“There’s got to be taken accountability for all the war crimes that have been committed. There has to be security guarantees, so this can’t be started within 30 days,” Groysman added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants the same.
President Donald Trump says he is ready to speak personally with Russia’s President Putin to secure his support for a ceasefire.
“The ball is in their court,” United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated.
Rubio says the United States is contacting Moscow.
Ukraine agreed to negotiate an end to the three-year war on Tuesday during talks in Saudi Arabia.
“If their response is no, then it will be highly unfortunate, and it will make their intentions clear,” Rubio continued.
In exchange, the United States would resume military aid and sharing military intelligence after it was suspended a week ago.
“How many lives were lost because of those couple days that were paused? We shouldn’t be playing with people’s lives like that; we need to see this through,” Groysman explained.
Rubio also says Europe would have to be involved in any security guarantee for Ukraine.
“Europe really needs to play a bigger role in all of this,” Groysman continued.
Groysman isn’t sure what’s ahead for his hometown, but he believes Russia’s long history of breaking ceasefire agreements will make a permanent end to the war a tough task.
“They can stop the war at any day by just leaving Ukraine. It is about democracy, and Ukraine is on the front lines of that, and we can’t just abandon them. I think it’s going to be a long process,” said Groysman.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the proposed 30-day ceasefire would allow both sides to prepare a plan for ending the war.
Groysman says Scranton 4 Ukraine has raised nearly $30,000 in funds donated to Ukraine refugees.
