Zelenskyy calls those suggesting ceasefire without guarantees 'armchair experts'

"But there is dangerous rhetoric. We know who is raising and pushing it. As for the ceasefire: first a ceasefire, then we’ll see. This is a very alarming challenge for all our citizens. First a ceasefire, then we’ll see. Who are you? Are your children dying? Are they being killed there? Are your homes being destroyed? What are we talking about? Who are you?" Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President pointed out that previous ceasefires, like the one after Russia’s occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014, ended with Russia preparing for a full-scale invasion.

According to the President, this shows that a ceasefire without security guarantees for Ukraine is "preparation to continue the occupation of Ukraine and to destroy our independence and sovereignty."

"This is what we now call 'armchair experts.' There’s no other term for it. People who didn't live through war but have only seen it in books and movies. People who've spent years or months talking to Putin, hugging, but never fought with him. This is analysis without a deep understanding of war, its consequences, and the risks it brings," Zelenskyy emphasized.

He noted that everyone clearly understands that a simple ceasefire is now "a model we hear from certain leaders here (at the Budapest summit - ed.), as well as from Brazil, China, and, importantly, we hear it from Russia."

"This is an ideal model for Russia. Ceasefire, and then something else - one must clearly understand what that 'something else' means. We had a ceasefire before, which was followed by a 'prisoner exchange' clause. Let me remind you that the exchange didn’t even happen. People have been in prison for 10 years. After the ceasefire, the conflict was simply frozen," the President added.

Zelenskyy recalled that when he became the President of Ukraine in 2019, he negotiated with Putin about an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.

"Back then, only 130 people were exchanged, not all for all. So, one cannot say 'we'll see later.' That is absolutely unprofessional, and, most frighteningly, irresponsible. There must be a clear plan," the President emphasized.

He believes that every leader has the right to express their opinion, but not to promote it.

"First, you need to have influence over your own society, then over others, and only then do you become a decision-maker. A decision-maker is someone who can stop the war right now. If you can't stop the war now and can't do it in the next 10 years, then you're not a decision-maker," Zelenskyy said.

He also added that it's strange to hear calls for a ceasefire from a country that opposes Ukraine's NATO membership.

"A leader who is against Ukraine's NATO membership is the one offering a ceasefire. Imagine this nonsense. Why? Because a ceasefire happens when the victim knows they will have security guarantees. So, a leader who proposes a ceasefire but opposes security guarantees is simply a speaker," the President emphasized.

Concerns over Trump

Earlier, media reported that in Kyiv and among Ukraine's allies, there are growing concerns that the next US President, Donald Trump, may pressure Ukrainians to accept a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, involving significant territorial concessions.

There are also broader fears that, without clear long-term guarantees for Ukraine's future, Russia could use any ceasefire to rebuild its armed forces and prepare for a new offensive.