Zelensky demands ceasefire before Russia talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is ready for direct negotiations with Russia —but only if Moscow confirms a “full, lasting and reliable” ceasefire beginning Monday.

“There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day,” Zelensky said in a post on X on Sunday. “We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow… and Ukraine is ready to meet.”

He added that it was encouraging to see signs that Moscow was finally considering an end to the prolonged conflict, calling a ceasefire the first step toward true peace.

Reinforcing the president’s statement, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said on Telegram that a 30-day ceasefire is the basic precondition for any further peace-related progress.

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“Russia should not disguise its desire to continue the war under verbal constructions,” Yermak warned.

However, Russia appears to have a different stance. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, responded that President Vladimir Putin’s position remains firm: negotiations must address the root causes of the war before a truce can be discussed.

In an overnight press briefing in Moscow, Putin proposed resuming direct peace talks in Istanbul starting Thursday, with Türkiye reaffirming its readiness to host the discussions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed this in a phone conversation with Putin on Sunday.

On Saturday, Zelensky met with several European leaders in Kyiv, where they jointly called for a “full and unconditional” 30-day ceasefire—a call also supported by the United States. The group warned that failure to comply could result in heightened sanctions against Russia.

Türkiye has remained an active mediator throughout the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year, having previously hosted multiple negotiation rounds aimed at brokering a settlement.

NAN