Ukraine insists on Russia's immediate cessation of hostilities following Putin's announcement of a truce on Victory Day.
Revised Article:
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha raised eyebrows on April 28, responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed "humanitarian" truce declaration on Victory Day. Sybiha bluntly called for an immediate halt to hostilities if Russia truly yearns for a truce, questioning why Putin isn't moving swiftly.
This announcement echoes Moscow's ongoing rejection of Kyiv's push for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire as the cornerstone for a broader peace agreement. The Kremlin's announced ceasefire is slated to start from midnight on May 8 and conclude on May 11, as per their statement.
Sybiha, expressing his discontent in a post on X, skipped Carnival pleasantries, stating, "If Russia craves peace, it needs to cease hostilities pronto. Why wait till May 8th? If Russia can halt their war now, then any date's fine — it's real, not just for a spectacle."
Ukraine advocates for a sustained, solid, and comprehensive ceasefire, a proposition it continually advances. In his post, Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's stance.
Previous ceasefire ventures initiated by Russia have often raised eyebrows due to their uncertain effectiveness and commitment. With Russia's history of trampling on truces, many view the Victory Day ceasefire with skepticism. For instance, during a temporary ceasefire over Easter this month, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations between April 19 and April 21. Moreover, Russian forces were accused of repeatedly attacking energy facilities during a partial truce agreed upon on March 25.
Russia, despite proclaiming its desire for peace talks, continually peddles maximalist demands. Kyiv dismisses these overtures as propaganda gimmicks, pointing out that Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns.
In the past, Putin has declared unilateral ceasefires, but Ukraine remains leery about Russia's sincerity. Eastern Sunday in 2025 saw Putin's truce crumbling within hours, with Zelenskyy accusing Moscow of attempts to conjure an illusion of adhering to the truce. Meanwhile, both sides have blamed each other for violating a 30-day halt on energy infrastructure strikes brokered by the Trump administration. Putin has consistently tied a complete, unconditional ceasefire to a halt in Western arms supplies to Ukraine and Ukraine's mobilization efforts, reflecting a conditional approach to peace negotiations.
Faced with Russia's perceived aggression, Ukraine has stayed critical, questioning Putin's control over his forces and the genuineness of Russian ceasefire declarations. Ukraine maintains military readiness, as evidenced by the ongoing conflict, and seeks international support to pressure Russia into genuine peace talks. Ukraine also engages its international partners, such as the Trump administration and Western allies, to address the conflict through dialogue or potential sanctions on Russia.
- After raising questions about a proposed ceasefire by Russian President Vladimir Putin in April, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate halt to hostilities if Russia genuinely wants peace.
- In addition to advocating for a comprehensive ceasefire, Ukraine has been critical of previous Russian-initiated ceasefire ventures, often questioning their uncertain effectiveness and commitment.
- Despite Russia's proclamations of desire for peace talks, Ukrainian officials like Sybiha view Russian demands as maximalist and often consider them propaganda gimmicks.
- With a history of truce violations and continued aggression, Ukraine remains cautious about Russian ceasefire declarations and seeks international support to pressure Russia into genuine peace talks.
