Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine has proposed a ceasefire with Russia during the upcoming Easter holidays and is currently awaiting a response. Zelensky expressed hope for support from the United States regarding this initiative.
This announcement was made during a closed session of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council, which included discussions with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Zelensky indicated that he plans to discuss the ceasefire proposal with the American team in the coming days.
“We have proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays. We hope that the U.S. will support this proposal, and we are waiting for a response from Russia. Tomorrow, I will speak with the American team, including on this issue, and we hope for results. Results are needed by all,” the president stated.
On March 30, during a press conference, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to establish a ceasefire with Russia for the Easter period. He emphasized that Ukraine supports any format that leads to the end of the war, provided it maintains the dignity and independence of the state.
“We have supported any formats for ending the war, as you know. But when you do not lose the dignity and independence of our state, we are ready for a ceasefire during the Easter holidays,” he noted.
In addressing potential risks associated with a temporary ceasefire, Zelensky remarked that he does not believe Russia could significantly strengthen its military positions during such a brief period. He referred to previous instances where Russia failed to deliver on promises made in a short timeframe.
In a related context, former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for a week ahead of negotiations. Trump stated that Ukrainian officials were initially skeptical but ultimately welcomed the idea.
On January 30, the Kremlin announced that Russia had agreed to temporarily refrain from strikes on Kyiv until February 1 to facilitate negotiations. However, just days later, Russian forces launched drone and missile attacks across multiple regions in Ukraine, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, damaging educational institutions and residential buildings.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that Russian strikes targeted thermal power plants that were only operating to provide heating to areas in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted a significant number of Russian missiles and drones during these assaults.
Zelensky stated that the recent attacks indicate Russia’s unwillingness to engage in negotiations, prompting Ukraine to adjust its negotiation strategy. He clarified that the proposal for a pause in strikes originated from the U.S. and was personally communicated by Trump, while Russia responded with intensified military action.
Trump later claimed that Putin had honored the request for a pause during severe cold weather, which lasted from one Sunday to the next. Zelensky mentioned that during subsequent trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, the U.S. delegation proposed further de-escalation of attacks on energy facilities.
As of February 11, Zelensky reported that Ukraine had yet to receive a response from Russia regarding its readiness for an energy ceasefire. On February 14, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov stated that Ukraine aims to discuss energy ceasefire conditions during upcoming trilateral talks in Geneva.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a ceasefire with Russia during the Easter holidays, seeking U.S. support. This initiative comes amid ongoing military tensions and previous attempts at negotiation, highlighting the complex dynamics of the conflict.