Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes a ceasefire with Russia is possible at any moment, and Kyiv’s allies should apply greater pressure on Moscow to make it happen.
Zelenskyy made this statement at a joint news conference in Prague with Czech President Petr Pavel, emphasizing that without increased pressure, Russia won’t take real steps to end the war.
A ceasefire, according to Zelenskyy, should last at least 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance, as proposed by the US in March.
Recently, Russia declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, but Zelenskyy finds this measure pointless.
Zelenskyy stressed that Putin should focus on ending the war rather than displaying tanks at a victory parade.
To achieve peace, Zelenskyy advocates for more sanctions against Russia, continued support for Ukraine, and increased defense cooperation across Europe.
The Czech government has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022 and has led efforts to supply Ukraine with large-caliber ammunition.