Zelenskyy outlines 'plan B' in case of Russian rejection of ceasefire
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
The United States has taken the lead in pushing for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine. No one is obstructing their efforts, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Asked whether discussions with international partners focus solely on a ceasefire and whether there is a Plan B, Zelenskyy said it was the American side that proposed an unconditional halt to hostilities and is currently working toward that goal.
“We are now discussing a full ceasefire with the American side. We believe they have taken the initiative and are leading it. And frankly, no one is standing in their way,” the president said.
He noted that while other countries have expressed interest in joining the process, the United States currently holds the greatest influence in this area.
Zelenskyy added that in the event the talks fail, the US has pledged “appropriate strong steps,” though the specifics of such measures have not been disclosed.
“What these steps will be, I don’t know. They know that sanctions and military support for Ukraine are crucial for us. We will be expecting those two steps,” he stated.
The president also highlighted the issue of security guarantees. According to him, international partners have made it clear that such guarantees cannot be provided while active hostilities continue. Ukraine hopes to receive them either during the ceasefire period or at the moment a peace agreement is signed.
“We believe - and we share this understanding with our European partners - that the deployment of security guarantees should begin at the moment the ceasefire takes effect,” he explained.
Regarding the timeline of negotiations, Zelenskyy stressed that prolonged talks are not in the interest of the United States either, and both sides are expecting concrete results.
“My opinion is that long talks about a ceasefire are also not beneficial for the U.S. That’s why we believe there must be results. And we very much hope there will be results,” he added.
Ceasefire negotiations
Last month, the United States held several meetings with Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Washington initially proposed a full ceasefire, later suggesting a 30-day truce.
The US and Ukraine later issued a joint statement outlining the outcomes of their talks. A similar statement was published by Russia, though their version included a set of conditions related to maritime security.
Shortly afterward, the Kremlin rejected the US peace initiatives altogether, claiming they did not address Russia’s “problems.”
