Kremlin responds cynically to Zelenskyy's 30-day ceasefire proposal
Photo: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready for a truce with Russia but insists on a 30-day ceasefire. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by saying that it was waiting for an answer to the three-day truce.
Russia's proposal for a three-day truce, previously made by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, is allegedly a test of Kyiv's readiness for long-term peace, according to Peskov.
“The purpose of the Easter ceasefire proposed by Russia, as well as the current initiative to declare a truce for the holidays, May 8, 9, 10, is to test Kyiv's readiness to find ways for long-term and sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine. The reaction of the Ukrainian authorities to Russia's initiative to declare a truce is a test of Ukraine's readiness for peace,” Peskov said.
He added that the Kremlin was waiting for final statements and reiterated the thesis of Russian propaganda, mentioning “neo-Nazism.”
“We will expect not ambiguous, but definitive statements, and most importantly, actions aimed at de-escalating the conflict during the holidays,” he said.
Backstory
In late April, Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire, from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. The truce implies a complete cessation of all hostilities. But from the practice of the Easter truce, a ceasefire was only in the air, not on the front.
Today, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his readiness for a ceasefire but noted that Ukraine insists on a 30-day truce in line with the proposed US strategy. He also explained that it is impossible to agree on anything in the short time frame proposed by Russia.
“An unconditional ceasefire is a model proposed by the Americans. We are following it. From this date or another - preferably earlier. Yes, let's try for 30 days. Why a 30-day ceasefire? Because it is impossible to agree on anything in three, five, seven days,” the president said.
