Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that he stands by a proposal to do so Russia for a ceasefire on the condition that Moscow stops all attacks on energy infrastructure.
Zelensky said in his evening video address that the proposal had been transmitted to Moscow via the United States. He also said work would continue with U.S. negotiators on security guarantees, which he called key to lasting peace.
“If Russia is ready to stop attacks on our energy infrastructure, we will be ready to respond accordingly,” he said. “This proposal was transmitted to the Russian side through the Americans.”
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Zelensky last week offered to observe a ceasefire under similar conditions at Easter – in the Orthodox faith, which is dominant in both Russia and Russia Ukraine Easter falls on next Sunday.
But after new Russian attacks, he then said that Russia had responded to the proposal by using Iranian-developed Shahed drones.
Moscow reacted coolly to Zelensky’s proposal last week, saying it was in favor of a comprehensive peace deal instead.
In remarks on Monday after a nighttime attack on the Black Sea port of Odessa left three people dead, Zelensky said Russia appeared unwilling to agree to an Easter ceasefire.
“We have repeatedly proposed a ceasefire to Russia, at least for Easter, a special time of the year,” he said. “But for them all times are the same. Nothing is sacred.”
