Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply opposed the Russian Federation’s initiative to establish local ceasefires for two to three days to collect the bodies of those killed on the battlefield.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Criticism of Russia’s Proposal
During a briefing on June 2, Zelensky emphasized that such ceasefires proposed by Russia are merely an attempt to gain a short pause in hostilities, rather than a genuine step towards peace. He stressed that a ceasefire should aim to prevent casualties, not create conditions for the temporary collection of bodies.
“They are ready for a ceasefire for two to three days to collect the dead from the battlefield. I believe they are idiots. A ceasefire is meant to prevent deaths. So you can see the mindset – for them, this is a matter of a small pause in the war.”
Call for Increased Sanctions
Zelensky called on the United States to intensify sanctions pressure on Russia, as he stated that only such measures can compel the Russian leadership to seek genuine paths to a ceasefire. The President of Ukraine emphasized that by other means, Russia currently does not consider the possibility of halting its aggression.
It is worth noting that on June 2, during a meeting in Istanbul, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, voiced a proposal for a temporary ceasefire in certain areas of the front to collect the bodies of the deceased. However, the Ukrainian side criticized this initiative, viewing it as a manipulative step that does not contribute to ending the bloodshed.