Zelensky says Oleshky ceasefire shows Russia can halt fighting but Putin is unwilling
Zelensky argued that the main obstacle to a ceasefire was Russian President Vladimir Putin's political will rather than technical difficulties.
Ukraine's humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky has demonstrated that a ceasefire can be established swiftly without extensive technical preparations, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This operation, mediated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, took place between October 27 and November 1, allowing civilians to leave the area.
Zelensky stated that modern warfare, with the use of drones for monitoring and video evidence of violations, makes the technical requirements for a ceasefire less critical. The primary obstacle to a broader ceasefire, he argued, was Russian President Vladimir Putin's lack of political will, not technical challenges. Ukraine and Russia had established a separate negotiating mechanism for the Oleshky operation, with the involvement of the U.S. The ceasefire between Ukrainian and Russian forces during the mission lasted five days, 19 hours, and 59 minutes.
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