Zelenskyy: Ukraine Wants Ceasefire, But Doubts Russia’s Readiness

Kyiv : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed doubts over Russia’s willingness to engage in genuine ceasefire talks, despite recent diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump and other European leaders.

Speaking after phone conversations with President Trump and European counterparts, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war but said there is a lack of trust in Moscow’s intentions. He said Ukraine is prepared to agree to a full ceasefire without any preconditions — a proposal initially supported by Trump — but questioned whether Russia is sincere about stopping the conflict.

“We are ready for a ceasefire. We want to end this war. But I don’t know what Russia’s real intentions are. According to President Trump, Russia may send us a memo with their proposed terms. They are not just talking about a ceasefire but adding other conditions as well,” Zelenskyy said.

He added, “We have suffered too many losses. We truly want peace. But we don’t trust Russia yet. The first step must be a ceasefire — a real one — to prove they are serious about ending this war.”

Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue with Ukraine’s international allies. “I keep our partners — the US and European leaders — informed. I was glad when President Trump proposed a full, unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine is ready. These are our principles: begin with a ceasefire, then move to prisoner exchanges and further negotiations,” he said.

His comments came after a joint diplomatic effort where President Trump announced that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to start talks toward a ceasefire. The Vatican has reportedly offered to host the negotiations after earlier attempts in Istanbul failed, despite the two sides agreeing on a prisoner exchange.

Zelenskyy’s cautious optimism reflects Ukraine’s desire to end the war but also its need for concrete actions from Russia before fully committing to peace talks. Trust, he emphasized, must be earned through actions, not just words.

As the international community watches closely, hopes for a breakthrough remain uncertain. Zelenskyy’s message was clear — Ukraine is ready to end the war, but the next move must come from Russia.