Does Ukraine demand ceasefire before talks with Russia? Presidential Office responds
Photo: Andriy Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
A ceasefire is necessary to hold peace talks with Russia. It is difficult to continue dialogue when Ukraine is under attack by drones and missiles, stated Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, during an online briefing for journalists.
Yermak recalled that during a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah this spring, the United States proposed an unconditional ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately agreed, but later, Washington saw that Russia rejected such conditions.
According to Yermak, European leaders returned to the issue during a recent meeting at the White House.
"How can we talk about negotiations when missiles and drones are flying? No talks can be completed in one meeting, because this is a major war. That is why everyone understands today that a ceasefire is needed. We say: let’s set a clear timeframe for this ceasefire, during which everyone will work 24/7 on negotiations and seek a possible agreement," Yermak added.
He stressed that the Americans have never opposed a ceasefire, while Russia continues to reject it, merely reshaping its Istanbul ultimatum that it put forward in 2022.
Yermak also noted that after the White House meeting, the Russian strike on Ukraine on the night of August 28 was particularly shocking for the Americans.
Zelenskyy–Putin meeting
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not set preconditions for his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He stressed that since all decisions in Russia are made by Putin, such a meeting is necessary for peace.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he wants to see a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia without a ceasefire — a position also backed by Moscow.
