Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that Ukraine is “ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire” following President Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a Monday post on X, formerly Twitter, Zelensky said he spoke with Trump once in a “one-on-one call” prior to his phone call with Putin and for a second time following his conversation with Putin in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
“This is a defining moment. The world can now see whether its leaders are truly capable of securing a ceasefire and achieving real, lasting peace,” Zelensky tweeted. “At the beginning of our bilateral conversation, I reaffirmed to President Trump that Ukraine is ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as has spoken about, particularly the United States.”
“It is important not to dilute this proposal,” Zelensky added. “If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions. Pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace – this is obvious to everyone around the world.”
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In addition to declaring that Ukraine is prepared to negotiate toward a “full and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelensky said his country is also ready to hold “direct negotiations with Russia in any format that brings results.” The Ukrainian president also noted that all possible venues are being considered for hosting negotiations with Russia.
“It is not necessary to convince Ukraine, and our representatives are prepared to make real decisions in negotiations,” Zelensky said. “What’s needed is a mirrored readiness from Russia to engage in meaningful talks.”
Zelensky warned that if Putin has “unrealistic demands,” if Russia refuses to release Ukrainian hostages and prisoners of war, or if Russia “refuses to stop the killings,” the result will be that Russia will continue to extend the war with Ukraine. If Russia refuses to work toward a ceasefire, Zelensky suggested that the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world should “act accordingly” by implementing additional sanctions against Russia.
“Russia must end the war it started, and it can begin doing so any day,” Zelensky concluded. “Ukraine has always been ready for peace.”
In a Monday statement on Truth Social, Trump said his phone call with Putin “went very well.” The president announced that both Ukraine and Russia would “immediately” begin negotiating a ceasefire and “an End to the War.”
