The United States is at the forefront of advocating for a total cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nobody is hindering these attempts.
When asked if talks with international allies revolve exclusively around a ceasefire and if there is a backup plan, Zelenskyy stated that it was the US who suggested an unconditional cessation of fighting and they are actively pursuing this objective.
"We are currently engaged in discussions about a comprehensive ceasefire with the Americans. We feel that they have taken the lead and are driving this process forward. To be honest, nobody is hindering them," the president stated.
He observed that although various nations have shown enthusiasm about participating in this initiative, the United States presently wields the most significant impact in this domain.
Zelenskyy also stated that should the negotiations fall through, the US has committed to "taking appropriate robust actions," although the details of these potential measures remain undisclosed.
"What these measures will entail, I am uncertain about. It is clear to them that both sanctions and military aid for Ukraine are vital to our position. We shall be anticipating these two actions," he declared.
The president likewise underscored the matter of security assurances. He stated that international allies have emphasized these pledges cannot be offered as long as fighting remains ongoing. Ukraine anticipates receiving these commitments either throughout the truce phase or precisely when a peace deal is ratified.
"We think—and we convey this perspective to our European allies—that the implementation of security assurances ought to commence as soon as the truce comes into force," he clarified.
Concerning the negotiation timetable, Zelenskyy highlighted that extended discussions do not benefit the United States as well, with both parties anticipating tangible outcomes.
"My view is that extensive discussions regarding a ceasefire do not serve America's interests either. Therefore, we feel strongly that concrete outcomes are necessary. We genuinely hope for such outcomes," he stated additionally.
Ceasefire negotiations
A few weeks ago, the United States hosted multiple discussions involving representatives from Ukraine and Russia. Initially, Washington put forward a proposal for an entire cessation of hostilities before proposing a 30-day temporary truce instead.
The US and Ukraine subsequently released a shared declaration detailing the conclusions from their discussions. Russia also put out a comparable statement; however, theirs contained a series of prerequisites concerning naval safety.
Soon after, the Kremlin dismissed all American peace efforts completely, stating that these proposals failed to tackle Russia’s “issues.”