We Are Ready to Move Toward a Ceasefire as Soon as Possible, Even Starting Today, If Russia Is Ready to Take Reciprocal Steps – Address by the President

Excerpt:  “We are preparing for important foreign policy events – meetings and negotiations. The key issue is whether our partners can influence Russia to accede to a full ceasefire – a durable silence that would allow us to seek a way out of this war. Right now, no one sees any such readiness from Russia; on the contrary, all of their internal rhetoric is increasingly mobilizing, and Russian propagandists continue to threaten not only Ukraine but also other neighbors – Lithuania, the other Baltic states. This is exactly what we have been saying for a long time: without pressure on Moscow, Russia will continue to wage war. Now, of course, the economic conditions in Russia are indeed less favorable – because of the oil price, which has dropped. However, these are still not the kind of conditions that would make Russia see the war as a fundamental problem for itself. That is why global sanctions – sanctions on Russian energy, on banks – can definitely help establish peace.”