Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said on Thursday that Russia had rejected a proposal for a truce during this weekend's Orthodox Christian Easter period, but added that he still has hope for peace.
Zelensky made these statements in a video speech. The Orthodox Easter service begins late on Saturday.
On the other hand, Zelensky ruled out going to Moscow to engage in direct talks with Russian leaders about the end of the war, he said on Thursday.
“On behalf of my country I would be willing to visit anywhere on the planet. But certainly not now and certainly not in Moscow. That is simply ruled out,” he told Russian media outlet Mediazona in an interview published by the Austrian newspaper Der Standard.
“However, in other circumstances and with other rulers in Moscow, anything would be possible,” he added.
The interview appeared at the time when Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the Ukrainian war.
Zelensky said in the interview that Russia's political leaders made a “catastrophic mistake” by invading his country and dragged the Russian people to suffer because of their irresponsibility.
“From now on, many countries will no longer be concerned with the question of whether someone is a good or a bad Russian. All Russians will be mistreated. Russia has succeeded. In the end, it's none of my business, but that should scare the Russian people,” he said.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the sustained and coordinated support of the international community, led by the United States, was important for Ukraine to have been able to prevent Russia from taking over the country.
“The Battle of Kiev was a historic victory for the Ukrainians. It was a victory for freedom won by the Ukrainian people with unprecedented assistance from the United States and our allies and partners,” the Democratic president wrote on his Twitter account.
He added: “All American taxpayers, all members of our Armed Forces can be proud of the fact that the generosity of our country, and the skill and service of our troops, helped to arm Ukraine to repel Russia's aggression.”
Biden announced on Thursday a new package of $800 million in military aid to Ukraine and another 500 million dollars in economic assistance, in addition to banning any ship linked to Russia from docking in his country.
The president delivered a speech from the White House, coinciding with the start this week of a new phase of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, more focused on the Donbas region in the east.
The Russians “have launched and focused their campaign to seize new territory in eastern Ukraine and we are now in a crucial window of time in which the foundations will be laid for the next phase of this war,” Biden warned.
For this reason, he noted that the US and its allies are going to move “as quickly as possible” to provide Ukrainian forces with the weapons and equipment they need to defend themselves.
(With information from Reuters)
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