Ukraine has officially extended an offer to Russia for a fresh round of peace negotiations scheduled for next week, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The proposal, conveyed by Defence Council secretary Rustem Umerov, aims to accelerate ceasefire progress amidst ongoing military offensives in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of achieving a ceasefire, stating, “Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire. The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions.”
The Ukrainian president’s offer comes after negotiations stalled last month, with previous talks in Istanbul yielding limited results, mainly prisoner exchanges. Russia had outlined a list of hardline demands, including ceding four Ukrainian regions it claims as its own and rejecting Western military support, which Ukraine deemed unacceptable. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Moscow agreed with Zelenskyy’s statement that peace efforts needed “more momentum.”
The proposal comes against a backdrop of heightened international pressure, particularly from US President Donald Trump, who set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face “100 percent tariffs” and potential secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil. Trump also pledged to ramp up arms shipments to Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, a Russian ministry spokesperson, said Moscow would not accept the “blackmail” of Washington’s sanctions ultimatum.
The conflict continues to escalate, with Russia launching a massive drone attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing at least one resident and injuring six others. The Ukrainian president reported that Russia launched over 30 missiles and 300 drones during the assault, affecting 10 regions of the country. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II, with estimates suggesting 1.2 million people have been wounded or killed.
Zelenskyy reiterated his readiness to have a face-to-face meeting with Putin, stating, “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace – lasting peace.” There was no immediate response from Russia. The Ukrainian president’s offer signals a readiness to break the deadlock by reopening channels of communication, a critical step toward de-escalation.