Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak discussed the implementation of the unconditional 30-day ceasefire initiative with partners from the European Union, the United States, northern Europe and the Baltic States. This is the US proposal that Ukraine supported during the meeting in Saudi Arabia, Yermak recalled.
He spoke, in particular, with US Special Representatives Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Bonn, adviser to British Prime Minister Jonathan Powell, and adviser to German Chancellor Gunther Sautter. In addition to Yermak, Ukraine was represented by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and advisers to the Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, Dariya Zarivna and Oleksandr Bevz.
“We stressed that a full and unconditional ceasefire should be the first step towards a just and sustainable peace. The Kremlin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire is not about peace, but about the safe holding of a parade in Moscow. This is a political manipulation,” the Head of the Presidential Office said.
They discussed instruments of pressure in case Russia abandons the initiative or violates the agreements.
Attempts to establish a ceasefire
Ukraine, unlike Russia, has officially agreed to both an unconditional complete ceasefire and a ceasefire on infrastructure. Instead of accepting the US proposals, Moscow put forward its own demands. In March, it declared a 30-day ceasefire on the energy sector, although it continued to hit energy facilities with drones. At the same time, it did not stop striking civilian targets, including homes.
On the eve of Easter, Russia decided to declare a 30-hour ceasefire. It violated it repeatedly, although the number of attacks and shelling was lower.
And before 9 May ‒ one of the Kremlin’s favourite holidays, for which Moscow organises a parade with the participation of foreign leaders ‒ it declared a “truce” for three days. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready for a truce, but not for three days, rather for 30 days.