Ukraine never wanted a single second of this war and is striving for a lasting peace, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
“It has become a Russian state habit — to wage war against neighbors, to export hatred, to destroy lives,” Zelensky remarked. “We all want this to stop. Peace is needed, and it must be lasting.”
The President emphasized Ukraine’s constructive engagement with its partners across all diplomatic formats that could help restore security and peace.
“We are not just ready for peace — we have always sought it. Ukraine never wanted this war and is defending life every single day,” he said.
Zelensky reminded that Ukraine had accepted the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire 34 days ago — an end to attacks on cities like Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kupiansk, and Beryslav, and across the entire frontline.
“And yet for 34 days now, Russia has openly refused a ceasefire,” Zelensky said. “Putin remains focused on continuing the war, on deadly strikes. Russian propagandists are preparing their audience to believe that diplomacy is futile.”
According to the President, the core reason for this intransigence is that “they are not afraid in Moscow.”
“If there is not enough pressure on Russia, they will simply continue doing what they’ve always done — waging war,” Zelensky warned.
