Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a three-day ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, April 28, saying it was a manipulative attempt to control the narrative of the ongoing war.
In a video address on social media platform X, Zelensky questioned the sincerity of the Kremlin offer, which is scheduled to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations from May 8 to 10.
“There’s a new operational attempt now: For some reason, everyone has to wait till May 8,” Zelensky said.
If Russia really wants peace, it must stop the fire immediately. ”
President Putin announced a ceasefire earlier in the day, and the Kremlin used it as a gesture of goodwill. However, Ukrainian officials almost immediately rejected the proposal, criticizing its limited duration and motivation for timing.
Foreign Secretary Andriy Sybiga responded to Zelensky’s position and called for a ceasefire for at least 30 days. “Why wait till May 8?” he posted on X, urging Russia to stop hostilities without delay.
The proposal also aroused suspicion from international observers. The United States will describe the coming week as “critical” to assess the sincerity of Russia’s peace proposals and the prospect of a meaningful settlement of the conflict.
