Jake

We in Ukraine never wanted a single second of this war. Back on March 11, we responded positively to the American proposal for a full ceasefire. We made our own proposal to Russia – bilaterally – to halt strikes at least on civilian targets. We also proposed making the Easter ceasefire full and extending it for thirty days. Russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world, trying to deceive the United States. Now, yet again, another attempt at manipulation: for some reason everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire — just to provide Putin with silence for his parade. We value human lives, not parades. That’s why we believe — and the world believes — that there is no reason to wait until May 8. The ceasefire should not be just for a few days, only to return to killing afterward. It must be immediate, full, and unconditional — for at least 30 days to ensure it is secure and guaranteed. This is the foundation that could lead to real diplomacy. We reaffirm this proposal. The American proposal also remains on the table. Russia knows exactly what it needs to do and how to respond: to genuinely cease fire.

I had a good conversation with the Prime Minister of New Zealand @chrisluxonmp. I’m grateful for his kind words about Ukraine and the Ukrainian people — and especially for the support New Zealand has provided to our country during this war. New Zealand stands firmly on the side of life—providing assistance to help us defend our people and our state, and supporting Ukraine both politically and economically. We value New Zealand’s role in the global sanctions effort. Today, Prime Minister Luxon and I discussed the need to apply new sanctions against Russia for prolonging the war and trying to distort the diplomatic efforts of the partners. I informed about Russia’s strikes on our energy infrastructure — all of which has also been shared with our American partners. We also discussed relations with key states in order to establish a dignified peace. In addition, we talked about joint efforts, particularly with European partners, to ensure reliable security for Ukraine in the future. Thank you for your support.

The summit in London was dedicated to Ukraine and our shared European future. We feel strong support for Ukraine, for our people – both soldiers and civilians, and our independence. Together, we are working in Europe to establish a solid foundation for cooperation with the United States in pursuit of true peace and guaranteed security. Europe’s unity is at an exceptionally high level, one that has not been seen in a long time. We are discussing with our partners security guarantees and the conditions for a just peace for Ukraine. A series of important meetings and decisions are being prepared for the near future. I am grateful to all our friends and partners for their efforts in bringing about a stable and guaranteed peace in Ukraine. Joint strength can protect our future.