President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a ceasefire from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11. He said that this timeframe is insufficient for developing further plans to end the war, and therefore, Ukraine is ready to agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting from any date proposed by the United States.
He made this statement during a meeting with journalists, as reported by a Suspilne correspondent.
“It just doesn’t look very serious — or perhaps very unserious. This feels like a game designed to create a soft atmosphere for Putin’s exit from isolation on May 9, so that everyone — the leaders, friends, or partners of Putin — who come to Red Square for whatever reason can feel comfortable and safe. No one is going to help Putin,” the president said.
According to him, Ukraine has communicated its position to its partners.
In response to a question about whether any countries had approached Ukraine regarding their leaders’ visits to Moscow and potential strikes, Zelensky said:
“Our position is very simple regarding all countries that have gone or are going to Moscow on May 9: we cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are the ones providing your security, and therefore, we will not be giving any guarantees. Because we don’t know what Russia will do on those dates. It may take various steps on its own side — arson, explosions, and so on — and then blame us. I told the Minister of Foreign Affairs that our position is this: from a security standpoint, we do not recommend visiting Russia.”
What is known about Putin’s statement on a three-day ceasefire
On April 28, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin announced a “ceasefire” and “halt to hostilities” to coincide with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II. The proposed truce is set to last from 00:00 on May 8 to 00:00 on May 11.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kyiv does not understand the logic behind Putin’s announcement of a “ceasefire” tied to the commemorations. The ministry emphasized that Ukraine is prepared for a full ceasefire lasting at least 30 days.
Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Putin might be deceiving him and has no real intention of stopping Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On April 28, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Georgiy Tykhyy, also commented on Putin’s proposal, stating that Ukraine does not understand the logic behind the Kremlin leader’s announcement of a “ceasefire” and “halt to hostilities” during the 80th anniversary celebrations of World War II. Kyiv is ready for a full ceasefire lasting at least 30 days. These same sentiments were echoed by President Volodymyr Zelensky during his evening address on the same day.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire (from May 8 to 11) is the beginning of direct negotiations with Ukraine, but without any preconditions. Lavrov also expressed skepticism about the idea of declaring a more extended truce.
Zelensky responded to Putin’s offer, emphasizing that “there’s no reason to wait until May 8” to implement a ceasefire. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Russia to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire for at least 30 days.
