President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s latest so-called truce proposal, which suggests a temporary ceasefire from May 8 to 11 to mark the eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Speaking from Ukraine’s Cherkasy region, where civilian infrastructure was recently struck by a Russian drone, Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine sees no reason to delay peace until May.
Zelenskyy said that the damage caused by a Russian “Shahed” drone, which targeted a gas facility serving civilians, underscores the need for immediate action. “This war is not about parades or historical dates,” he said. “It is about lives. It is about ending the killing now, not in a week or for a few symbolic days.”
Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated readiness for a meaningful ceasefire. Zelenskyy reminded the public that Ukraine supported a US proposal for a complete ceasefire as early as 11 March and had even offered Russia a bilateral halt on attacks targeting civilian infrastructure. Furthermore, Ukraine proposed a full thirty day ceasefire during Easter, which Moscow rejected.
The president called out Russia’s ongoing attempts to deceive the global community and manipulate ceasefire discussions to serve its own image. He warned that Putin’s brief pause is designed for optics during the Victory Day parade, not genuine peace. “The world should not wait until May 8. A real and complete ceasefire must start now and last for at least thirty days,” Zelenskyy urged.
The call for peace was echoed by Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who affirmed Kyiv’s support for a long term ceasefire. Meanwhile, the White House reaffirmed the US President’s support for a permanent end to hostilities, rejecting Russia’s suggestion of a short pause.
Zelenskyy stressed that Moscow knows what it must do to stop the war, and that only strong and sustained international pressure, especially from the United States, can bring Russia to make the right choice.
