Yuri Kobzar22:28, 09.08.25

Ukraine demands immediate ceasefire, president says.

Kiev will not agree to a “second attempt to divide Ukraine.” This was stated in an evening video address by President Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on Russia’s demands to hand over all of Donbass to it.

He stressed that Ukraine and all its partners are striving for a ceasefire, while Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is resisting it.

“The only card he has is the ability to kill, and he is trying to sell stopping the deaths at the highest possible price. It is important that this does not deceive anyone. What is needed is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime later, in months, but immediately,” Zelensky said.

According to him, active diplomatic work is currently underway to bring peace closer to Ukraine. In particular, contacts with the American side “continue almost around the clock” at various levels, although not everything is brought out into the public space.

Zelensky also noted that Putin is now trying to “jump off” new sanctions, the introduction of which Donald Trump recently threatened. According to the Ukrainian president, the Kremlin is trying to exchange a “pause in killings” for “territorial spoils.”

“Putin wants to be forgiven for the seizure of the south of our Kherson region, Zaporizhia, the entire territory of Luhansk region, Donetsk region, Crimea. We will not allow Russia to make this second attempt to divide Ukraine. Knowing Russia – where there is a second, there is a third. Therefore, we stand firm, on clear Ukrainian positions,” Zelensky said.

(C)UNIAN 2025