Zelensky Expects ‘Strong Steps’ from US if Russia Rejects Ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects the US to take ‘strong steps’ if Russia refuses to abide by the ceasefire agreed to by Kyiv and Washington at talks in Saudi Arabia.

He said this at a meeting with journalists in Kyiv, which was broadcast by Suspilne.

Answering journalists' questions about how the United States would act if Russia refused to implement the agreements reached during the meeting of the American and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected “strong steps”.  

‘Strong steps towards the Russian side. I understand that we can count on strong steps. I don't know the details yet, but we are talking about sanctions and strengthening of Ukraine,’ the President said.  

Also during the press conference, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine and the United States had discussed security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a suspension of hostilities, but detailed negotiations on this issue were still ahead.  

He noted that Ukraine had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire initiated by the US to avoid accusations of ‘unwillingness to make peace’.

As The Gaze previously reported, on 11 March, Ukraine agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire on the condition that Russia also takes this step. This decision was made during talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia. The parties agreed that ‘it is time to start the process of establishing a lasting peace’.