Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, saying it reinforces calls for a broader diplomatic push and a halt to ongoing conflicts.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine is ready to “respond in kind” if Russia stops its strikes, adding that a ceasefire would create the necessary conditions for negotiations.
Moscow urges return to trilateral format
The Kremlin on Wednesday welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, saying it hopes the pause in hostilities will allow renewed diplomatic efforts on the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia views the truce “with satisfaction” and supports efforts to halt further armed escalation.
Peskov said Russia hopes the United States will now have more time to resume three-way peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S.
He referred to earlier negotiations held in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, and Geneva, saying that discussions had previously been paused following the outbreak of hostilities in Iran.
Call for global de-escalation
In a post on X, Zelenskiy said Ukraine has consistently called for a ceasefire in its war with Russia and supports efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf.
A ceasefire is the right decision that leads to ending the war. It means saving lives, abandoning the destruction of cities and villages, and allowing power plants and other infrastructure to operate normally – and thus provides the time and conditions necessary for diplomacy to…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2026
He said recent developments demonstrate that ceasefires can open the door to meaningful diplomatic agreements.
Ukraine war context
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in the war that has lasted four years, with Kyiv arguing that only a halt in fighting can allow space for peace talks.
Russia, however, has insisted that any ceasefire must be based on comprehensive preconditions before it agrees to stop military operations.
According to the Kremlin, progress in peace talks has been limited due to disagreements over territorial issues. Russia has demanded that Ukraine surrender the remainder of the Donbas region, while Kyiv has rejected any territorial concessions.
Security cooperation in the Middle East
Zelenskiy also noted that Ukraine has contributed more than 200 specialists to the Middle East to assist in countering Iranian drone attacks.
He said Ukrainian military expert teams will continue working in the region to strengthen security capabilities.
Ukraine has previously supported U.S. actions targeting Iran, which it describes as an ally of Russia and a supplier of drones used in the war against Ukrainian territory.
