Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on European Union leaders to support a limited truce with Russia, Reuters news agency reports.
The proposed truce would focus on air and sea warfare as a way to gauge Moscow’s willingness to end the conflict.
Speaking at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, where European leaders gathered to discuss defence spending and support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, “Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it.”
He proposed two specific ceasefire measures: a halt to attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure—what he called a “truce for missiles, bombs, and long-range drones”—and an agreement for no military operations in the Black Sea. He stressed that these steps could be a starting point toward a broader peace deal and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the importance of prisoner exchanges as a way to build “basic trust.”
The Ukrainian leader reiterated his stance that no discussions about Ukraine should happen without its participation. His comments came after US President Donald Trump held direct talks with Russian officials, leaving Kyiv and European allies out of the negotiations.
“Anything that affects the security of Europe should be resolved with the participation of Europe,” Zelenskyy insisted, welcoming a new EU defence plan aimed at strengthening European military capabilities.
The summit followed a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in Washington last week, which saw heated exchanges and strong criticism of the Ukrainian leader from the US administration. With Washington pausing military aid to Kyiv, Zelenskyy has intensified efforts to secure European backing.
Despite recent tensions, Ukrainian and US officials have agreed to hold further discussions next week. Zelenskyy expressed hope that the meeting would be “meaningful.”
Reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, he said, “Let me emphasise once again that Ukrainians do really want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine.”