Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, April 28, dismissed a proposed three-day ceasefire by Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it 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’s offer, which is scheduled to run from May 8 to 10 to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.
“Now there’s a new attempt at manipulation: for some reason, everyone has to wait until May 8,” Zelensky said. “
If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately.”
The ceasefire was announced earlier in the day by President Putin, with the Kremlin framing it as a gesture of goodwill. However, Ukrainian officials rejected the proposal almost immediately, criticizing both its limited duration and the motive behind its timing.
Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga echoed Zelensky’s stance, calling instead for a minimum 30-day ceasefire. “Why wait until May 8th?” he posted on X, urging Russia to halt hostilities without delay.
The proposal has also drawn skepticism from international observers. The United States described the coming week as “critical” in evaluating the sincerity of Russia’s peace overtures and the prospects for a meaningful resolution to the conflict.
