Zelenskyy: I don’t see strong pressure on Russia right now

He said this during a joint briefing following his meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"President Trump and the United States have said that if one of the parties does not agree to a complete ceasefire, and to other additional steps that bring the parties closer to ending the war, there will be strong steps forward, including sanctions and so on... 

I do not see strong pressure on Russia right now. Nor do I see any new strong sanctions against the aggression of the Russian Federation. Not yet. We are very hopeful. Without reproach. Absolutely without emotion or reproach, we are speaking very directly—we believe that with greater pressure on the Russian Federation, we will be able to bring our sides closer, if you will, although we are already close... In diplomatic language, we will be able to bring the sides closer to a complete and unconditional ceasefire," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

He also emphasized that the willingness to sit at the negotiating table with Russia after its aggression against Ukraine is already a major compromise.

"And when we talk about compromises, and so on, I believe that we were attacked, our territory was occupied. Tens of thousands of people have been killed. Many children and adults have been buried alive. And the fact that Ukraine is ready to sit at the negotiating table after a ceasefire, after a complete cessation of fire with the terrorists who organized all this on our land, is a major compromise," Zelenskyy said.

The president also noted that Ukraine does not want this war to continue, so all initiatives to end it are important.

"All initiatives are important. There can be different initiatives. But still, every leader who proposes one or another peace initiative starts with a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Everyone agrees to this except the Russian Federation," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that if Russia is ready for a ceasefire, then it is Russia that must immediately stop strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine.