Kyiv, March 14 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed optimism on Friday about the possibility of ending the conflict with Russia. This follows Ukraine's acceptance of a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, with Moscow indicating its conditional approval.
Zelenskiy stated, "We have a significant opportunity to swiftly conclude this conflict and establish lasting peace, supported by robust security arrangements with our European partners," during an interview on X.
Emphasizing the value of silence as a first step in any peace process, he called for pressure from the U.S. and other allies to push Moscow towards a ceasefire, cautioning about potential delays by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskiy proposed that U.S. satellite surveillance and intelligence could help manage a ceasefire along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) frontline. Following discussions in Saudi Arabia this week, where U.S. and Ukrainian officials met and reached an agreement on the ceasefire, Washington resumed sharing intelligence and providing military support.
Regarding the complex issue of territories, Zelenskiy acknowledged the challenging dialogue ahead. He highlighted that territorial matters pose the greatest challenge post-ceasefire, as Russian forces currently occupy almost a fifth of Ukrainian land, with ongoing advancements in eastern Donetsk.
The Ukrainian president stressed the ceasefire's pivotal role in ending the conflict, with resolution of territorial disputes crucial for its conclusion. Notably, Moscow's demands for the permanent cession of Ukrainian territories including Crimea and four other regions have been rejected by Ukraine.
In discussions with Kyiv's allies, Zelenskiy is exploring future security guarantees and economic assistance, underlining the necessity of 100% air defense coverage as a deterrent in any peace agreement.