Journalists asked what specific steps on the part of US President Donald Trump are needed so that there was a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
“I think that important steps. If the corresponding law in the congress is not yet registered, I think the corresponding strong steps will be in the near future,” Zelensky answered. “We are very expecting this. I don’t want to say from whom, but we understand from whom. We talked about it. This is tightening the sanctions pressure on the Russians for not wanting to end the war. Of course, the first step to the end is the ceasefire.
Ukraine is waiting for these steps, he emphasized.
“We have been waiting for them for a long time. I know that at least we have such information that America is close to appropriate measures. Let's see if it is. This is not a prophecy, this is just information that is. How much it corresponds to the realities, we will see with you in the near future. And I really think that these steps can affect the Russians regarding the ceasefire,” added Zelensky.
Commenting on the visit of the Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev in the United States, the president noted that the Russian Federation wants to lift sanctions. Europe will not do this, and as Zelensky hopes, the United States will also not take such a step.
“Europe will not relieve sanctions. In my personal opinion, their economy [РФ] It really depends on precisely European sanctions. We believe that the United States will not go to relieve sanctions, but on the contrary, take steps to strengthen. And daily blows, and today's and ballistic stroke – the proof that strong sanctions steps against Putin are needed. This will force them to stop, stop the hot phase of this war, a ceasefire, ”he emphasized.
Context
In January 2025 Trump threatened the Kremlin to tighten the sanctions, If the Russian Federation does not want to negotiate the end of the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the White House officials openly recognized the likelihood of weakening the pressure on the aggressor country from America.
Although the American authorities did not exclude that, within the framework of the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine, sanctions against the Russian Federation could be softened, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European allies that the Trump administration will retain sanctions against Russia at least until a peace agreement is reached, Bloomberg found out.
The fact that the United States without hesitation will go to Va-Bank on the issue of sanctions against Russian energy, if this will contribute to the cessation of fire in the war of the Russian aggressor country against Ukraine, the US Minister of Finance Scott Immotrot said on March 6. He noted that, at the direction of Trump, sanctions against the Russian Federation “will be applied clearly and aggressively for the immediate achievement of the maximum effect.”
On March 26, Trump suggested that Russia is “pulling time” and is trying to delay the achievement of a complete truce with Ukraine. According to FoxNews, Trump believes that the illegitimate President of Russia Vladimir Putin is drawn by negotiations on the establishment of peace in Ukraine. Therefore, the head of the White House is considering the application of sanctions, which will also apply to the Russian “shadow fleet”, noted by the media.
