Ukraine will ask US mediators to convey its proposal for an Easter ceasefire to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, as Kyiv presses ahead with diplomatic efforts while awaiting Moscow’s response.
Speaking at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv, Zelensky said Ukraine had proposed a truce for the Easter holidays and expected to discuss the issue with US officials the following day.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“I spoke about this yesterday and will repeat it today: we have proposed a ceasefire for the Easter holidays. We hope that the US will support this proposal, and we are awaiting a response from Russia. Tomorrow I will speak with the American team, including on this issue, and we expect results. Everyone needs results,” Zelensky said, according to Ukrinform.
Zelensky told journalists at the Bucha Summit that he would take part in a video conference on Wednesday with key Ukrainian and US negotiators, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also expected to join the talks, Ukrinform reported.
Zelensky also thanked those backing diplomatic efforts to end the war, while stressing that additional pressure on Moscow would be needed to secure progress.
“We are doing everything to end this war through diplomatic means. But Russia shows no intention of concluding a reliable agreement; everything depends on pressure. I hope that the United States will remain resolute, help bring Russia to a trilateral meeting, and put pressure on it for the sake of peace,” he said.
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Speaking to reporters on Monday, Zelensky said Kyiv would prefer a lasting ceasefire, but limited arrangements over Easter could be acceptable so long as they did not undermine Ukraine’s “dignity and sovereignty.”
“We are ready for a ceasefire for the Easter holidays. In my opinion, to be honest, normal people who respect life talk about a ceasefire and an end to the war for life, not for a few days,” Zelensky said, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Former US ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer told Kyiv Post that while Zelensky’s proposal was understandable, the chances of success appeared limited given Moscow’s past response to similar initiatives.
“I can understand President Zelensky’s desire for an Easter ceasefire, but expectations should be modest. The Russians have regularly rejected ceasefire proposals,” Pifer said.
The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back on the proposal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had not seen any “clearly formulated” Ukrainian initiative for an Easter truce.
“From Zelensky’s statements we’ve read, we haven’t seen any clearly formulated initiatives for an Easter truce,” Peskov told reporters, according to AFP.
“We reiterate: Zelensky must take responsibility and make the appropriate decision so that we can achieve peace, not a ceasefire,” he added.