Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine’s war with Russia, warning that halting hostilities without concrete security guarantees would be a “failure for everyone.”
Speaking after a summit in London with more than a dozen European leaders, Zelenskyy remained firm in his stance, arguing that past experiences—such as Russia’s violation of a 2014 ceasefire in eastern Ukraine—prove that a cessation of fighting without enforceable security measures would be ineffective.
He also addressed recent tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, downplaying the need to repair their relationship while reaffirming his gratitude to the American people. Trump and some of his allies have suggested that Ukraine should be open to a ceasefire, a sentiment echoed by Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
Zelenskyy maintained that without guarantees backed by military force, any truce would be impossible to sustain. “If there is no clear end to the war and no security assurances, a ceasefire cannot be controlled,” he stated from London’s Stansted airport before returning to Ukraine.
