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Zelenskyy Offers 30-Day Unconditional Ceasefire if Russia Is “Genuinely Ready”
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine is prepared to implement a ceasefire with Russia beginning May 7, but only under the condition that it lasts for 30 days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, aligning with a plan proposed by the United States.
Speaking to reporters on May 3, Zelenskyy dismissed Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s proposed three-day truce from May 7 to 9 as symbolic and ineffective, according to Ukrinform. He said the short timeframe does not allow for any meaningful progress toward ending the war.
“The unconditional ceasefire model was proposed by the Americans. We support it,” Zelenskyy said. “Whether the date is the 1st, the 3rd, the 5th, or the 7th—it doesn’t matter. Let’s begin on the 7th, but for 30 days. Because in three, five, or seven days, it is impossible to agree on anything.”
Putin’s short-term proposal, Zelenskyy added, coincides with events marking Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, and he suggested it could be an attempt to ease the country’s political isolation ahead of May 9. He also noted the symbolic significance of May 7—the day Putin first became president 25 years ago.
Zelenskyy said he sees no serious intent in the Russian proposal, suggesting it is more of a gesture designed to create a favorable international image during the Victory Day parade, which foreign leaders are expected to attend.
“If they are genuinely ready for a ceasefire, then we should move forward with the American plan and commit to a 30-day pause,” Zelenskyy said. “They continue killing until the 7th, then take a break for two or three days, and resume missile attacks on the 11th. That’s not a real offer.”
Zelenskyy added that any ceasefire would require robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure its implementation. He stated that Ukraine had already communicated its position to the US, the UK, and France, and noted that Washington agrees that Moscow’s proposal lacks credibility.
“We either remain at war, or Putin demonstrates that he’s ready for the first step toward ending it,” Zelenskyy said. “If that’s the case, we’re ready to begin from any date—what matters is the duration and the intent.”
Earlier, Putin announced a proposed ceasefire from midnight on May 8 until midnight on May 11, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations. The proposal was widely viewed as a limited measure rather than a step toward broader peace negotiations.
The Kremlin also rejected Ukraine’s call for a 30-day ceasefire, with Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov citing unresolved “nuances” as the reason for refusing a long-term truce.
