Zelensky's former spokeswoman urged Ukraine to hold a ceasefire with Russia

Ukraine needs an immediate ceasefire with Russia. Yulia Mendel, former spokeswoman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expires May 2024), said in an article for Time on January 29.

"A cease-fire could allow Ukraine to heal, to rebuild. We could strengthen our democracy, rebuild our economy and begin the long process of social reconstruction," she said.

According to her, the desire for a ceasefire is not weakness. The Ukrainian authorities should be pragmatic for the future generation of the country.

She added that she urged all allies and compatriots to think about the value of a ceasefire. According to Mendel, surrender is necessary to ensure a better future for the country.

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Earlier, on January 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in 2022, Russia offered Ukraine to withdraw from the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DNR, LNR) to avoid conflict. The Russian leader also said that he was ready to meet with Zelensky in the spring of 2022 to sign a peace treaty.

Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev suggested on January 14 that Ukraine may cease to exist this year, but its people remain bound to Russia by centuries-old ties.

The last round of talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. They lasted about three hours. Later, Kiev officially refused contacts with Moscow. On October 4, 2022, the Ukrainian president put into effect the decision of the country's National Security and Defense Council that it was impossible to hold talks with Putin.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.