President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian side had been ignoring the US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for 30 days for 39 days. According to him, Ukraine has welcomed this initiative, but there has been no concrete response from Russia.
‘If Russia is now suddenly ready to really join the format of complete and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act in a mirror image – silence in response to silence, strikes only in defence against strikes,’ Zelenskyy said in an address published on the evening of 19 April.
The President also stressed that the 30-hour conditional ceasefire announced by Russia the day before in connection with Easter was a gesture that looked more like an informational rather than a real intention. According to him, a true willingness to peace could be demonstrated by agreeing to the proposed thirty days of silence.
Despite Moscow’s words, Russian assaults on the frontline continue. According to Zelenskyy, this is evidenced by the report of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The enemy’s artillery does not stop, so, as the President stressed, there is no reason to trust Russia’s intentions.
‘We know too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are always ready for anything. The Ukrainian Defence Forces will act rationally, mirroring the response,’ the head of state stressed.
The President also said that he was waiting for updated reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces at 21:30 and 22:00 after his conversations with the brigade commanders at the frontline.