Ukraine discussed with US, French, British and German high-ranking officials ways to put pressure on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
Yermak did not specify when the online talks took place, with the participation of US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, senior diplomatic adviser from France Emmanuel Bonne, British national security adviser Jonathan Powell and senior adviser to the German leader Gunther Sauter.
According to him, the participants stressed that "a complete and unconditional ceasefire should be the first step towards a just and sustainable peace“.
“We also discussed instruments of pressure in case Russia rejects the initiative or violates the agreements“, Ermak said in a post on “Telegram“.
Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept an American proposal for an immediate, temporary 30-day ceasefire, the term of which could be extended by mutual agreement, and accuses the Kremlin of ignoring this plan. Putin proposed a ceasefire for only three days – from May 8 to 10.
“The Kremlin's proposal for a three-day ceasefire has nothing to do with peace, but is aimed at safely holding the parade in Moscow. "This is political manipulation," Ermak said.
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is preparing for a military parade on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, and President Vladimir Putin hopes it will show his power, Reuters reported.
A ceasefire declared by the Russian president came into effect on Monday and the skies over major Ukrainian cities remained calm despite reports of clashes in eastern Ukraine.