Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire across the entire territory. This decision was made to demonstrate Ukraine's readiness for peace, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the President noted, before the meeting between Ukrainian and US teams in Saudi Arabia, the discussion was focused on a proposal for a ceasefire in the air and at sea. However, the American side then suggested a different approach.
Zelenskyy explained that during the meeting, the Ukrainian team joined him, while the US delegation, including President Donald Trump, raised the question of whether Ukraine was ready to take steps towards a ceasefire across the entire territory.
"I have emphasized many times, none of us trusts the Russians, we've been through this before, but we will not play along with narratives that we do not want the war to end. I am very serious about this, and it is important to me to end the war. I want President Trump to see this, I want Europe and everyone to be united to pressure Russia into ending the war. So my response was - we are ready for the 30-day ceasefire format offered by the US side," the Ukrainian President explained.
Ceasefire proposal
Earlier, President Zelenskyy outlined potential first steps toward peace. He proposed a truce in the sky and at sea, referring to stopping airstrikes and military actions at sea.
On Tuesday, March 11, during a meeting in Saudi Arabia, the US side proposed a ceasefire across the entire territory. Ukraine agreed to this proposal.
Now, Ukraine is waiting for Russia's response regarding the ceasefire. According to the US Secretary of State, the American side will contact Russia regarding the ceasefire on March 12.
Sources told RBC-Ukraine that the idea of a potential ceasefire across the entire territory was developed during negotiations in Jeddah. They also indicated that if Russia agrees to the ceasefire, a technical group will be established to determine the format of the ceasefire and the monitoring mechanism.
