Russia could be pressured into ceasefire within weeks or months – Zelenskyy
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukraine wants a swift end to the war and has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire. However, Russia has yet to accept the proposal, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"The Russians have not agreed to this yet. We see it. Although we know that discussions between the Americans and the Russians on this issue are ongoing. There are non-public talks, they exist. And today, no matter how differently we may see some things, we are all united in our goal of achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible," Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized the urgent need to increase pressure on Russia.
"I believe this can be achieved in the coming weeks, maybe months. Sometimes it happens in one moment, especially with this part of the end of the war," the President stated, adding that Ukraine wants the ceasefire to be unconditional.
Zelenskyy believes that a ceasefire is the right step, and Ukraine has already agreed to it. He noted that initial agreements could last for a month or two, but they would provide an opportunity for diplomatic negotiations.
"This is a chance for countries to begin diplomatic discussions in various formats. They can be completely different. This will take time. And it is important that no one puts pressure on anyone during these dialogues," he stressed.
Negotiation process on ending the war
In March, the US held a series of meetings with delegations from Ukraine and Russia. These discussions focused on a proposed 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow.
Following the latest meeting, Ukraine and the US issued joint statements outlining the agreements reached.
More details can be found in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
Russia also released a final statement after its talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia. However, the Russian statement included conditions related to a ceasefire at sea with Ukraine.
Additionally, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed he supports the US proposal for a ceasefire but mentioned some nuances that concern him.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov recently rejected US peace initiatives. Moreover, he complained that they do not address Russia’s problems.
