Zelensky declares Ukraine ready for instant ceasefire

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has declared that Kiev is prepared to initiate a full ceasefire immediately and without any preconditions. The announcement, posted on Zelensky’s official Telegram channel following a conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to halt hostilities “from this very minute.”

Zelensky stated that their discussion centered on advancing efforts toward a “real and lasting ceasefire,” the current battlefield situation, and ongoing diplomatic initiatives. He proposed that the ceasefire should extend for at least 30 days, saying it would “open many diplomatic possibilities.”

“Ukraine is prepared for a full ceasefire now,” Zelensky said. He urged for a halt to missile and drone strikes, along with all combat along the front lines, and called on Russia to respond constructively and “prove they want to end the war.” He also appealed to Washington for support of the proposal.

His statement follows Russia’s previously declared 72-hour ceasefire, introduced by President Vladimir Putin to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin described the move as both a humanitarian gesture and a possible opening for direct peace talks with Ukraine.

However, Zelensky initially rejected Russia’s truce as a “manipulative” tactic, and Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian targets reportedly increased just before it took effect. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed nearly 500 Ukrainian attacks occurred during the ceasefire, and that it had repelled two attempted cross-border raids by Ukrainian forces.

Kiev has consistently called for a 30-day ceasefire in recent months, but Moscow has rejected the idea, accusing Ukraine of using such pauses to reorganize and rearm.

Still, Russia has said it remains open to unconditional negotiations with Ukraine and wants a comprehensive resolution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict. A previous U.S.-mediated partial ceasefire in March, focused on protecting energy infrastructure, was also violated repeatedly by Kiev, according to Russian defense officials.

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