“This is not the first challenge, nor the first promises made by Russia as a ceasefire … We know who we are dealing with, we do not believe them,” Zelensky told journalists at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel.
Vladimir Putin proposed a three -day truce that coincide with the Russian commemorations of May 9 in order to, according to him, test the arrangement of kyiv to make peace. Vladimir Putin had already decreed a short ceasefire during the Pascal weekend in April, which had led to a drop in fighting without being fully respected by the two camps.
In March, Moscow rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire offered by kyiv and Washington. “Today and throughout these last days, they are talking about wanting a kind of partial ceasefire, but you should know, for example, that the number of assaults today is the highest in recent months,” said Zelensky, citing a military report which reports more than 200 attacks on Saturday.
-European initiative
“There is therefore no confidence (in them),” added the Ukrainian president. Petr Pavel, former NATO general, said that he was paying attention to those who are ready to respect a cease-fire, not those who are content to talk about it. “Putin can end the war by a simple decision, but he has not shown the will until now,” added Petr Pavel.
Zelensky arrived in Prague on Sunday for a two -day visit, accompanied by his wife. The Czech Republic, a member of the European Union and NATO, has provided Ukraine a substantial humanitarian and military support since the invasion of this country by Russia in February 2022.
It welcomed more than half a million refugees and provided to the Ukrainian army equipment such as tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters. Prague also coordinates a European initiative aimed at providing artillery ammunition to Ukraine, largely funded by NATO allies, which Zelensky described as “excellent” during the press conference.
