RT reported that at the moment Russia solemnly celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War with a 3-day unilateral ceasefire, on May 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suddenly made a decisive statement: Kiev is ready to immediately cease fire, without any preconditions.
Mr Zelensky made the statement right after a phone call with US President Donald Trump, raising fragile hopes for a real diplomatic opportunity between Russia and Ukraine after more than 3 years of fierce conflict.
On the official Telegram channel, President Zelensky declared: "Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire from now on". He stressed that the proposal does not include any preconditions, and called on the Russian side to respond commensurately if it truly wants to end the conflict.
Mr Zelensky's previous phone call with US President Donald Trump was said to be a discussion about the possibility of pushing for a "real and sustainable" ceasefire, while discussing the frontline situation and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Mr Zelensky affirmed that a ceasefire lasting at least 30 days "will create many opportunities for diplomacy".
The announcement from Kiev comes as Russia unilaterally implemented a ceasefire on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the P combatively victorious region, which lasted from midnight on May 8 to the end of May 11.
However, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine carried out nearly 500 attacks during the ceasefire period, including 173 shelling attacks using artillery, tanks and mortars; 4 rounds using rocket artillery systems; about 300 attacks using suicide drones (FPV UAVs).
Two border encroachments in Kursk Oblast were also blocked by the Russian army, while several other major attacks were recorded near Toretsk (formerly known as Dzerzhinsk).
Previously, when President Putin announced the humanitarian ceasefire, Ukraine flatly rejected it, calling it a " manipulation trick" and stepped up attacks of UAVs deep into Russian territory. On May 8 alone, Russia announced that it had shot down a record 524 Ukrainian UAVs.
This time, President Zelensky turned the tables by declaring his own ceasefire. In the statement, Mr. Zelensky also called on the US to "support and accompany" this ceasefire initiative.
The US previously acted as an intermediary in the limited ceasefire in March - focusing on avoiding sabotage of energy infrastructure. However, on the Russian side, that ceasefire was repeatedly violated by Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has not yet made an official comment on the phone call with President Zelensky, but analysts say that if the US publicly supports Kiev's ceasefire initiative, it could be a signal for a new strategy of Washington in removing the clouds of the conflict in Eastern Europe.
From Moscow, the Kremlin reaffirmed its readiness for direct talks with Ukraine without preconditions, as long as core issues are resolved. However, with the number of border attacks and intrusion announced by Russia, trust between the two sides is at its lowest level since the beginning of the year.
The fact that both sides have expressed their wishes for a ceasefire at the same time - despite inconsistent timing and action - shows that the diplomatic window is still open. The question is whether both of them will step through that door together?
