Ukraine agreed to a (partial) ceasefire with Russia to send a clear message to the world that Vladimir Putin does not want peace. This was stated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with European media, UNIAN agency reported. Russia wants to take control of the Black Sea trade corridor, he also said.
Zelensky said that it is Ukraine that wants peace, not the aggressor Russia. “With such steps, I have shown very clearly that we are ready for a ceasefire, but now you will see that Putin is not ready“, he said.
The second reason, according to Zelensky, is that US aid to Ukraine must be unblocked. Zelensky also noted that he would like US President Donald Trump to put pressure on Putin with sanctions now that Moscow has refused to cease fire.
The adoption of new rounds of sanctions will be necessary until Russia stops the war. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference with his French counterpart, quoted by Ukrinform, BTA reported.
"We are talking separately with the EU about new sanction measures. The adoption of new rounds of sanctions will be necessary until Russia stops this war, and their cancellation is the next stage," Zelensky said. According to the president, the agenda of the meeting with the US in Saudi Arabia did not include the issue of sanctions.
Zelensky noted that "the cessation of any strikes on civilian infrastructure" was also discussed, and added that American partners supported Ukraine, but they, in turn, did not receive support from Russia. "That is why the question of (lifting) sanctions (against Moscow) was not raised with us", Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president officially announced two days ago that ceasefire agreements had been reached in the Black Sea and against energy infrastructure, which would come into effect immediately, and that he would push for more weapons and sanctions on Russia from his US counterpart Donald Trump if Moscow violated the agreement, Reuters reported.
Earlier, the US announced that it had reached separate agreements with Kiev and Moscow to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea and impose a ban on strikes on energy facilities in both countries.