Zelensky expresses hope for the cessation of the war amid growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an important and somewhat ambiguous statement regarding the current state of the Russia-Ukraine war, noting that the Russian leadership "has begun to consider the question of ending hostilities." According to the head of state, this is a good sign and indicates that the process of seeking peace may finally be moving forward. Based on information published on his official Telegram channel, Zelensky emphasized that all global communities have long been awaiting this step—the opportunity to end the ongoing mass killings and destruction that have persisted for more than a year. He described this as the first and most crucial step towards the long-awaited conclusion of the war. The Ukrainian leader underlined that there is no sense in keeping civilians and soldiers in fire for even one more day than necessary, and expressed confidence that Moscow must confirm its desire for peace. Zelensky stresses that Kyiv is ready for negotiations and urges the Russian side to make a definitive step—declare a complete and lasting ceasefire that must be reliable and unconditional. He stated that Ukraine expects Russia to officially confirm this initiative starting from May 12, which would open the way for further diplomatic negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace. It is also worth recalling that on the night of May 11 to 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a loud statement expressing intentions to allegedly organize "direct negotiations" with Kyiv in Istanbul as early as Thursday, May 15. This became one of the main headlines in international media ahead of the Russian side’s announced possibility of diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Additionally, it should be noted that on May 10, during a summit dedicated to the situation in Ukraine, a coalition of resolute allies and partners of Ukraine clearly voiced its demand to Russia—starting from May 12, Russia must cease hostilities without any additional conditions and refrain from using force for at least 30 days. This sets the goal of returning to the negotiation process and opens a window of opportunity for diplomatic resolution of the conflict that has been ongoing for over a year. Thus, the situation around the Ukrainian-Russian confrontation is gradually gaining new momentum. Moscow’s expected step—in announcing a full and unconditional ceasefire—could mark the beginning of the long-awaited peace. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities and the global community remain vigilant and continue monitoring developments, as the fate of the region and further security in Europe depend on these events.