Zelensky responded to Russia's proposal

Ukraine continues to seek agreement on a complete and unconditional ceasefire along the entire front line.

As UNIAN reports, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a video call, commenting on Russia's proposal for a short-term ceasefire in certain areas.

According to Zelensky, Kyiv's position remains unchanged: the ceasefire must be complete, without preconditions, with mandatory exchange of prisoners, return of deported children and civilians.

He noted that Moscow is not currently demonstrating readiness for a genuine ceasefire, offering only brief pauses of 2-3 days for the evacuation of bodies of the deceased.

"A ceasefire is needed not to collect bodies, but to prevent casualties altogether," emphasized the Ukrainian leader, adding that the Kremlin perceives such pauses merely as temporary halts in hostilities.

Zelensky also expressed hope that the United States would increase sanctions pressure on Russia to push it toward a ceasefire: "They don't understand any other way. We consider this fair."

Earlier, the Russian side, through the head of the delegation at the Istanbul negotiations, Vladimir Medinsky, offered Ukraine a short-term ceasefire to remove the bodies of fallen soldiers.