Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new framework for a partial ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday, announcing on X that Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce prohibiting long-range attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.
The proposal follows the Trump administration’s decision to declare that Zelensky was not ready for peace, leading to a freeze on U.S. military aid, which Ukraine has depended on in its fight against the Russian invasion, the Washington Post reported.
“Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal,” Zelensky wrote.
Zelensky’s post, which did not mention halting ground operations for either side, came in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to pause U.S. aid after his public spat with the Ukrainian leader on Friday. The aid freeze has sparked concerns over Kyiv’s battlefield strength and intensified calls for European nations to step up and fill the gaps left by reduced American support, the Post said.
“Washington’s decision to pause aid — applicable to all future deliveries of U.S. military assistance to Kyiv — could be reversed if Zelensky demonstrates a good-faith effort to participate in peace talks with Russia,” said the Post, citing an unnamed U.S. official.
During his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, Trump appeared willing to repair relations with Kyiv, saying, “I appreciate” Zelensky’s statement.
The U.S. president also said he received a letter from Zelensky agreeing to come to the negotiating table. “Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace,” he added.
For days, Republicans have criticized Zelensky for what they see as a lack of gratitude during his visit to Washington last week, where an Oval Office meeting reportedly escalated into a heated argument between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Zelensky acknowledged that the way the meeting unfolded was “regrettable” in his post. “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” he wrote.
The concept of a partial ceasefire was initially proposed by France, which suggested a one-month “truce in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure” that could be more effectively monitored than the expansive ground combat along the front line, the Post reported.
If successful, the truce could serve as a foundation for negotiations on security guarantees and other diplomatic issues. Additionally, it could pave the way for a potential European troop deployment in the event of a broader peace settlement, noted the outlet.
In his nightly address on Tuesday, Zelensky said he has instructed top officials to contact their U.S. counterparts to clarify whether aid has indeed been halted after Ukraine received various signals for weeks regarding the possibility.
“People should not have to guess,” he said. “Ukraine and America deserve a respectful dialogue and a clear stance from each other — especially when it comes to protecting lives during a full-scale war.”
Sustaining the fight in the long term will be challenging without new sources of weaponry. However, Zelensky noted that Ukraine is prepared for such scenarios, having already weathered aid stoppages in the past and grown more resilient since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the Post said.
At a Tuesday news conference, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed deep gratitude for U.S. support while emphasizing Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its own defense capabilities. He stated that Ukraine currently produces 30% of the weaponry and equipment used on the front lines and aims to increase that figure to 50% by the end of the year.
“We have to be self-reliant,” he said. “Our existence is at stake.”
He also stated that Kyiv is still prepared to sign the minerals agreement with the United States, which was supposed to occur last week before the confrontation between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office.