**Ukraine’s President Sees End to War in Weeks with Western Pressure**
In a visit to Chernihiv on April 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism that a full ceasefire could end the hot phase of Russia’s war against Ukraine within weeks. He emphasized that Western countries need to put sufficient pressure on Moscow for this to happen.
The current conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since February 2022. In March, Kyiv announced its readiness to initiate a complete 30-day ceasefire if Russia agreed to the same terms. However, Russia refused, only agreeing to partial ceasefires in exchange for restored access to international markets.
Zelensky believes that Western countries, particularly the US and Europe, must work together to pressure Moscow into a full ceasefire as quickly as possible. “The issue now is putting pressure on the Russians to get there,” he said, noting that this could happen within weeks or months.
**US-Russia Private Talks Continue**
Private talks between Russia and the US regarding an unconditional ceasefire are ongoing. Zelensky mentioned these conversations during his visit to Chernihiv, referencing a similar agreement reached in Saudi Arabia. Despite these discussions, Russia has not yet agreed to an unconditional ceasefire.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian negotiator, confirmed that he had arrived in Washington for talks with US officials on behalf of President Vladimir Putin between April 2 and 3. However, the content of their discussions remains unclear.
**Ukraine Expects More Pressure from West**
Ukraine expects more pressure from Western countries to force a full ceasefire. Presidential Office Deputy Head Pavlo Palisa said that Ukraine had provided evidence of Russian violations of the energy ceasefire to the US. However, it’s essential for the West to take action and put sufficient pressure on Russia.
**Recent Developments in Conflict**
The conflict has seen recent developments, including:
* A partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure attacks and use of force in the Black Sea.
* Ukraine accusing Russia of violating this agreement by attacking infrastructure in Kherson. Moscow denied these claims and accused Kyiv of striking a gas metering station in Kursk Oblast.
The initiative aims to boost Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, with significant contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other European countries.
**International Support for Ukraine**
NATO is considering deploying a “reassurance force” to Ukraine using their command and control structures. The Danish government has approved the 25th package of military assistance to Ukraine, worth $970 million, which will support the country from 2025 until 2027.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a meeting last November, following the ICC’s arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.