The Kremlin had announced the 72-hour halt of fighting on Victory in Europe Day, urging Kyiv to reciprocate.
In a video and written post on X, Zelensky accused Russia of staging “symbolic gestures for its domestic audience” rather than taking genuine steps toward peace.
“We value human lives, not parades,” he said. “The ceasefire should not be just for a few days, only to return to killing afterward. It must be immediate, full and unconditional—for at least 30 days.”
Zelensky noted that on March 11, Ukraine had responded positively to a U.S. proposal for a full ceasefire and had made its own bilateral offer to Russia to halt strikes, at least on civilian targets.
“Russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world,” he said, adding that the U.S. proposal “remains on the table” and calling on Moscow “to respond sincerely” and “genuinely cease fire.”
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Source: CNN, Meduza, The Kyiv Independent