Zelensky expresses skepticism towards Russia's commitment to honoring a three-day truce.
Zelensky Scoffs at Russian Victory Day Ceasefire Pledge
In a casual, straightforward tone, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn't mince words on Sunday, stating he had "no faith" that Russia would respect a three-day truce during its Victory Day celebrations honoring the Nazi Germany defeat.
At a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague, Zelensky expressed his skepticism, saying, "This isn't the first time a ceasefire challenge has been thrown our way by Russia... We know their flaky reputation, so we don't believe them."
Vladimir Putin had suggested aligning the truce with Russia's 9 May commemorations to gauge the willingness of Kyiv to negotiate peace. Yet, Putin's prior brief ceasefire during Easter weekend in April witnessed an escalation in hostilities despite a decrease in skirmishes being observed.
In March, Moscow turned down an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposal from Kyiv and Washington. To clarify, there have been numerous ceasefire violations by both parties in past conflicts, specifically those around significant occasions like Victory Day.
Zelensky pointed out that Saturday's attacks on Ukrainian targets had hit an all-time high in recent months, according to a military report. "There's no trust [in them], period," the Ukrainian president added.
Pavel, who served as a NATO general before stepping into the Czech presidency, emphasized that he wasn't necessarily focused on who advocated for a ceasefire. Instead, he paid attention to those ready and willing to honor the truce agreement.
"Putin has the power to end this conflict with a snap of his fingers, but up to now, he's shown no intention of taking that route," Pavel stated.
Upon his arrival in Prague on Sunday, Zelensky promised a two-day visit accompanied by his wife. The Czech Republic, a European Union and NATO member, has been a steady provider of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
From refugee shelter to the delivery of military equipment like tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters, the Czech Republic has been a steadfast ally to Ukraine. The capital city of Prague is also coordinating an European initiative to supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition, mainly funded by NATO allies.
However, the EU has yet to fulfill its promise of delivering a million shells to Ukraine. During the joint press conference, Zelensky praised the initiative as "excellent," which aims to compensate for the EU's failed commitment.
Zelensky voiced his intentions to discuss establishing a Ukrainian-Czech school for training pilots for American F-16 aircraft in Prague on Monday, due to security issues in Ukraine preventing its establishment there. Moreover, Zelensky announced a meeting with "Czech defense companies" at a later time.
History shows that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have led to broken ceasefire agreements, and this pattern continues as of April 2025. Both sides persistently accuse each other of violating truces, culminating in a stalemate with no durable truce in effect. The overarching obstacles include mutual distrust and territorial disputes regarding Crimea and the Donbas region.
- Despite Zelensky's skepticism, Putin had proposed a ceasefire during Russia's Victory Day celebrations, hoping to gauge Kyiv's peacemaking readiness.
- The general-news landscape has largely been shaped by the failed attempts at ceasefires, such as Putin's brief truce during the Easter weekend, which resulted in an intensification of hostilities.
- In a political move, Zelensky, during his visit to the Czech Republic, announced plans to discuss the establishment of a Ukrainian-Czech school for pilots, citing security issues in Ukraine as the reason.
- Amidst war-and-conflict reports, the pattern of ceasefire breaches between Russia and Ukraine stretches back to April 2025, with both sides frequently accusing each other of violations, leading to a stalemate without a sustainable truce in sight.
