Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire in air and naval operations against Russia but refuses to halt ground combat. Kyiv fears that a full ceasefire would allow Russia to reorganize its troops and launch new attacks.
Serhii Leshchenko, Chief of Staff at President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, disclosed this in a televised speech on Monday.
“U.S. President Donald Trump asked us if we had any plans for a ceasefire. We responded that we are ready for a ceasefire in air and naval operations. We commit not to attack Russian forces by air or sea and will also keep energy and power facilities off the target list,” Leshchenko stated.
However, he emphasized that Ukraine will not agree to a ground ceasefire. “If we stop fighting on land, within a few months, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will reorganize his army and launch another attack on Ukraine,” he warned.
Leshchenko also mentioned that 70% of Ukraine’s recent military casualties were caused by Russian drone strikes.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022 after years of geopolitical tensions, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and the status of Crimea. Since then, Russian forces have occupied four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—officially annexing them in September 2022.
The U.S. has provided Ukraine with extensive military and financial support, especially under former President Joe Biden. However, since President Trump took office, Washington has reduced military aid and pushed for a ceasefire, leading to tensions between Kyiv and the U.S.
“U.S. support is crucial for us, but not at the cost of Ukraine’s national interests,” Leshchenko concluded.