**Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Calls for Immediate Western Pressure on Russia**
In a stark contrast to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent offer of a three-day ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the West to apply immediate pressure on Moscow to secure a meaningful and sustained ceasefire. Speaking in Prague alongside Czech President Petr Pavel, Zelenskyy emphasized that a ceasefire is not only possible but can be achieved at any moment, even starting today.
However, he made it clear that this requires sustained international pressure on Russia to ensure genuine peace negotiations take place. The Ukrainian leader rejected Putin’s three-day ceasefire offer as inadequate, calling for a minimum 30-day cessation to give diplomacy a real chance. This is not the first time Zelenskyy has pushed for a longer-term ceasefire; he noted that Russia has ignored 54 days of American ceasefire proposals.
**A Shift in Tone from Moscow**
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has marked 25 years of his rule with a documentary that hints at reconciliation with Ukraine. In the film, Putin describes reconciliation as “a matter of time,” and refers to Ukrainians as “the Ukrainian part of the Russian people.” However, this tone is in stark contrast to Zelenskyy’s stance, which sees Russia as a threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
**Strengthening Military Ties**
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Pavel highlighted strengthening military ties between the two countries. The Czech ammunition initiative has provided Ukraine with 1.6 million rounds in the past year, with projections for 1.8 million shells in 2025. This support from Czechia is part of a broader European effort to enhance defense cooperation, as demanded by Zelenskyy.
**A New Era of Diplomacy?**
Zelenskyy continues his diplomatic offensive, meeting Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Monday and citing his recent discussion with US President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian leader believes that a 30-day ceasefire represents the proper initial step toward peace, and has been bolstered by comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said decisions must come in weeks rather than months.
In this new era of diplomacy, it remains to be seen whether Russia will take Zelenskyy’s calls for a sustained ceasefire seriously. One thing is clear, however: the international community is being urged to apply pressure on Moscow to secure a lasting peace agreement. The world watches with bated breath as these developments unfold.
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