Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated during a visit to Prague on Sunday that a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia could be implemented at any moment, provided that Kyiv’s allies intensify pressure on Moscow.
Speaking alongside Czech President Petr Pavel at a joint news conference, Zelenskiy emphasized that without increased international pressure, Russia would not take meaningful steps to end the conflict, which has stretched on for over three years.
He pointed out that Russia has ignored even the United States’ proposal for a complete ceasefire, which has now gone unacknowledged for 54 days. “We believe that a ceasefire is possible at any moment, even starting today, and should last at least 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance,” Zelenskiy said.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced a symbolic three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, Zelenskiy dismissed the move as ineffective. Instead, he urged for an unconditional, month-long ceasefire aligned with the U.S.-backed peace proposal introduced in March.
The Czech Republic has remained one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since the Russian invasion began in 2022 and has spearheaded initiatives to supply Kyiv with critical military aid, including large-calibre ammunition.