Zelenskyy on the Easter Truce: "Ukraine will act symmetrically, but everyone has the right to respond"

Zelenskyy on the Easter Truce: "Ukraine will act symmetrically, but everyone has the right to respond"

During the Easter truce, the Defence Forces will act depending on whether the enemy complies with the conditions. Every Ukrainian unit has the right to respond.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this, who on the evening of Saturday, April 11, recorded a new video address to the people. The video is published on the YouTube channel of the OP.

During the truce, Ukraine will respond in kind

The head of state said that on Friday and Saturday he discussed the silence regime with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov, and representatives of the SSU.

Zelenskyy reminded that Ukraine has repeatedly proposed a truce at least for the holiday period. «And it would be good if this really works out. Easter should be a time of safety and peace», — he emphasized.

The ceasefire could continue further. «We have conveyed this proposal to Russia, and if it again chooses war instead of peace, this will once again show the world — including the United States — who and what really wants», — the president explained.

«Ukraine will act in kind. The tasks for the army have been defined. If there are no Russian strikes — there will be no responses from us either. We remember previous similar situations and know exactly who we are dealing with. If there are no Russian missiles and drones, we will also observe silence in the sky. The tasks for the front are similar. But every Ukrainian unit has the right to respond», — Zelenskyy reported.

He emphasized that Ukraine’s priority is real security. «The signal to the Russians regarding the possibility of extending the ceasefire has been sent», — Zelenskyy added.

Ukraine is preparing for the next prisoner exchanges

The president said that the exchange on April 11 was prepared for a long time. «Every return of our people matters. We remember everyone. We search for every name. Sometimes we find people after years when nothing was known about them — the main thing is that they can be returned home, to Ukraine», — said the head of state.

He thanked the Coordination Headquarters, DIU, FIS, SSU, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the army, which replenishes the exchange fund. «Your courage, warriors, is the guarantee of people’s return», — Zelenskyy addressed the defenders.

Ukraine remembers everyone held captive by the aggressor: both military and civilians. «We hope to continue the exchanges in the near future. We are doing all the work for this on our side», — the president noted.

Ukraine maintains contact with the US to advance negotiations

«We are working separately with partners to advance negotiations and guarantee security. Ukraine is constantly in touch with the American side at different levels. We are preparing active work in the coming weeks with European partners», — Zelenskyy said.

Security cooperation continues

Regarding agreements with countries of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, on Monday, April 13, Umerov will prepare a detailed report on the export of our security capabilities.

«All partners perceive this as Ukraine’s success and talk about it: Ukraine is really strengthening security. There is interest in Asia, and there are already initial agreements. This strengthens Ukraine as well. Rustem Umerov is already in Ukraine — we are coordinating agreement projects», — the head of state reported.

The main focus in domestic work is on energy

On Saturday, Zelenskyy heard a report from Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. «Energy is the first priority in domestic work right now. It is important that the energy system is working quite well; we have managed to increase generation», — the president stated.

He thanked everyone who works «so that this Easter is with light».