Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the reaction of the Russian leadership to his initiative to cease hostilities. According to the President of Ukraine, Moscow has once again chosen to continue the conflict rather than pursue peace negotiations.
As reported by RBK-Ukraine, Zelenskyy described the Russian side's response as "weak." "Unfortunately, the Russian side has chosen war again — everyone heard today's response. He simply does not want to end the war. I think this response has disappointed many around the world," the head of state stated.
Kyiv's Position: Pressure and Money
In his statement, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that the Russian dictator has no intention of changing his position or admitting that the war benefits only him and those who profit financially from it. Zelenskyy noted that those supporting the conflict were "very smiling today".
"This means Russia's money supply must decrease, and pressure on Russia must increase," summarized the President of Ukraine, calling on the international community to strengthen sanctions and economic pressure on Moscow.
Zelenskyy's Proposal: "Hold the Line"
Yesterday, the President of Ukraine published an open letter addressed to Vladimir Putin. In it, he stated that Russia would not be able to establish control over the Donbas region this year and called for ending the war through negotiations. As an interim step, Zelenskyy proposed a ceasefire based on the principle of "holding the line where we stand".
The initiative was announced against the backdrop of the US focusing on the situation with Iran. Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine is ready to move to direct negotiations with the Russian Federation to avoid waiting for further developments.
Reaction from the Kremlin and Trump
Before the official reaction from Putin, the Kremlin spokesman reported that the Russian leader had reviewed the letter, but reiterated Moscow's position: if Zelenskyy wants negotiations, he should come to Moscow.
US President Donald Trump reacted positively to the Ukrainian initiative, stating at the White House that he welcomes the discussion of a possible meeting.
More details on the content of Zelenskyy's letter can be found in a separate RBK-Ukraine article.