Official announcements from Ukrainian or Russian governments or credible international news sources

Zelensky Open to Ceasefire with Russia if Ukraine Receives Weapons and Security Guarantees from US and Europe

Jan 5, 2025, 08:54 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed openness to a ceasefire with Russia, contingent on Ukraine being supplied with weapons to repel potential future attacks. This statement was made during an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman. Zelensky emphasized that if a ceasefire were to be effective, Ukraine would need strong security guarantees from the United States and Europe before entering into any negotiations with Russia. He also mentioned that the weapons would remain unused if the ceasefire holds, but they are necessary to prevent a repeat of past aggressions. Zelensky referenced a previous ceasefire agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2019, which he said was violated a month later. Additionally, he criticized Western sanctions against Russia as 'nonsense' and highlighted Ukraine's efforts to combat corruption, noting the imprisonment of oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky.