Ze Kyiv sharply criticized Russia’s efforts to create a “memorandum” to end the war, calling it a smear on the reputation of global diplomacy and a sign of unwillingness to genuinely pursue peace
In his daily address, he emphasized that Moscow has been formulating this so-called document for a week, disregarding the heavy human losses and the need for a swift and real resolution of the conflict. “What it means that the Russians have been focused on creating this so-called ‘memorandum’ for a week is a terrible mockery of the entire world, of everyone who genuinely seeks peace and security. While people are dying every day, every second counts. They may not value the lives of their compatriots, but the world cannot remain on the sidelines and must demand fair and decisive actions,” stated the Ukrainian leader. According to Zelensky, the main task now is to increase pressure on Moscow, strengthen sanctions, and actively seek diplomatic solutions to achieve real peace. He emphasized that a new, powerful, and effective security architecture in the region is needed, and all partners of Ukraine should unite around this goal. Separately, the president highlighted that the biggest breakthrough in diplomatic negotiations at the moment pertains to the exchange of prisoners, which began on Friday. This, in terms of importance, is the only significant and concrete achievement in negotiations with the Russian side, while all other efforts are being blocked. Zelensky noted that Moscow tries to portray these talks as progress, but the reality is different. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, confirmed that Russia is at the “advanced stage” of working on the memorandum regarding a ceasefire. However, he also mentioned that Russia currently has no specific timelines for the second round of negotiations with Ukraine. This is another sign that Russian politicians actively ignore the prospects for a quick and fair peace, while all attempts by Ukraine and international partners to accelerate the process remain unresponded. Thus, the situation remains tense. Ukraine demands a swift ceasefire, increased sanctions, and active support from the global community in fighting Russian aggression. At the same time, Russia’s diplomatic efforts once again reveal instability and distrust, and the promises and “memoranda” being developed over weeks are unlikely to form the basis for a quick and sustainable peace in the region. The world community observes and awaits real actions, while calls for peace and security still remain on paper, and human lives continue to bear the cost of war.