President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that there was more bravado in Vladimir Putin's reaction to the American proposal to end the fighting for 30 days. He said this today while speaking to journalists.
‘Ukraine discussed this topic with partners and warned that the Russians would try to drag any peace process into details. Ukraine's plan was to have a ceasefire at sea and in the air and to exchange prisoners - clear steps that everyone can verify and monitor.
The Americans, in discussions with the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, proposed a complete ceasefire for 30 days.
He recalled the Minsk agreements, when the Russians began to offer details of the peace process in order to engage in dialogue and postpone certain things. In this case, it is a postponement of the end of the war or a ceasefire as one of the first points of the plan to end the war.
"Why do I say bravado? Firstly, it sounds very strange. For example, what about mobilisation, what about supplies? Martial law implies mobilisation. It is no secret to us how many people they mobilise. We say this publicly. It's no secret to them, and vice versa. So I don't see any point in this. I see it only as a PR bravado to say that Russia is in favour, but on its own terms. I think there will be a US reaction for sure. That's why this is such a game for the Russians. As always, Russia said before a full-scale war: ‘We are not going to occupy anyone. We don't want any war. But Ukrainians just have to follow the Minsk process.’ This ‘but’ is the details they are getting involved in. I believe the same thing is happening now," he said.
According to the Ukrainian president, if there is a strong response from the United States to these steps by Putin, they will not allow him to play around. And if there are steps that Russia is not afraid of, they will delay the process.
Asked how Ukraine would react to the possibility that the United States might counter Russia's countermeasures, the President said: ‘As always, unexpectedly.’
- On 11 March, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the US. Russia is to give its response to this. Moscow has not yet officially agreed or refused, but yesterday Putin said that he agreed to a truce, but with the requirement that Ukraine not mobilise and not receive weapons from its partners during the ceasefire.
- Following yesterday's talks with the US special envoy in Moscow, Donald Trump assessed the chances of peace as ‘very good’.