Zelensky says he is ready for immediate 30-day ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a telephone call on Thursday, in which the Ukrainian president said he was ready for a total ceasefire, Kyiv Post reported. 

Zelensky said, in a Telegram post following the call, that he proposed a total ceasefire for 30 days:

“Thirty days, which could be the beginning of years of peace. It is a ceasefire, lasting and reliable, which would be a real indicator of the movement toward peace. America can help with this. The world needs America just as much as it did 80 years ago.” 

Zelensky said that there should be a total ceasefire, including on missile and drone attacks, plus assaults at the front.

“The Russians need to respond to this adequately: support the ceasefire. They must prove their readiness to end the war,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also reportedly told the US president that he is ready for peace talks with Russia in any format.

US President Donald Trump has expressed hope that Moscow and Kiev will soon agree to a month-long truce.

The call came amid a 72-hour WWII Victory Day ceasefire that was unilaterally declared by Russia.

Starting at midnight on Thursday, Russian forces ceased hostilities and remained at previously occupied positions, only providing a “tit-for-tat reaction” to violations by Ukraine, RT reported citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

But both sides accused each other of violations.

Zelensky said that “Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire today, right from this moment,” but insisted that the truce should last for at least 30 days.