Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected US President-elect Donald Trump’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia. Zelensky emphasized that peace agreements cannot be based on mere signatures and pieces of paper without solid security guarantees for Ukraine’s future.

Following a meeting in Paris with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the conflict. He suggested that Ukraine “would like to make a deal and stop the madness.”

However, Zelensky swiftly responded in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, December 8, stating that the conflict cannot end without reliable peace guarantees. “A ceasefire without guarantees can be reignited at any moment… To ensure that Ukrainians no longer suffer losses, we must guarantee the reliability of peace and not turn a blind eye to occupation,” he wrote.

He reiterated that Ukraine would not make any territorial concessions to Russia, citing the millions of Ukrainians still living in the occupied territories. “We discuss peace through strength with all our partners, as well as the steps and guarantees needed for the people and the state attacked by Russia,” Zelensky added.

Trump, who has claimed he could end the war in a day if re-elected, has criticized the Biden administration’s military aid to Ukraine, suggesting he might push for a freeze in the conflict along current battle lines, leveraging US assistance to Kiev in the process. Zelensky’s rejection of Trump’s proposal underscores Ukraine’s position that a lasting peace requires more than just a ceasefire—it demands security and the restoration of its occupied territories.