Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed skepticism regarding French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for a global ceasefire during the Olympic Games, citing Russia’s historical non-compliance with such agreements.

In an interview with the prominent French journalist and blogger HugoDecrypte, Zelenskyy detailed his reservations about the ceasefire’s feasibility with Russia.

“I don’t believe in this with Russia. Not this format – not any ceasefire with Russia. Emmanuel knows this, he himself has witnessed it. We were together in the Normandy format, we went through the Minsk process together. France, Germany, Ukraine – we are all living witnesses that there is no such thing as a frozen conflict with Russia.”

Zelenskyy argued that Russia would likely use the ceasefire to regroup and strengthen its forces, only to launch further attacks afterward. He referenced the months following the Normandy negotiations, during which there was no effective ceasefire, and Ukrainian soldiers continued to be targeted by Russian snipers along the frontline.

“For Putin, there is no ceasefire, no Olympics, no authorities,” the Ukrainian leader summarized, highlighting the Russian president’s disregard for international norms and agreements.

Earlier President Macron had discussed his hope to negotiate a ceasefire in major global wars during the upcoming Summer Olympics in an interview with French media. He anticipated cooperation from various international partners, including China’s leader, to achieve this goal. Macron also mentioned that France is prepared for the Olympic opening ceremony on the River Seine in July, with contingency plans in place should the security situation require it.

Zelenskyy’s response underscores the ongoing challenges in dealing with Russian aggression and casts doubt on the effectiveness of proposed international peace initiatives during significant global events like the Olympics.

Today, Zelenskyy also held a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden to discuss the progression of military aid for Ukraine. This call followed the recent House of Representatives vote, which moved closer to providing substantial US military support to Ukraine amidst its ongoing war with Russia.

President Biden assured Zelenskyy that, pending Senate approval, he would immediately sign the legislation into law. Zelenskyy shared the details of their conversation on Telegram, stating, “President Biden assured that upon Senate approval, he would immediately sign the law. I am grateful to Joe Biden for his unwavering support of Ukraine and for his true global leadership.”

Zelenskyy also noted the bipartisan support for the bill and highlighted the personal roles of Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in advancing this critical legislation.

During the call, President Zelenskyy briefed President Biden on the relentless air terror Russia has been waging against Ukraine, including thousands of missiles, drones, and bombs. He specifically mentioned a recent attack on the Kharkiv television tower that occurred just minutes before their conversation, emphasizing Russia’s intent to make the city uninhabitable. In particular, the strike on the television tower disrupted television signal in the city which remains under constant Russian missile strikes.

“We discussed the first package of defense assistance following the bill’s passage. I have assurances from the president that it will be swift and robust, enhancing our anti-air, long-range, and artillery capabilities,” Zelenskyy stated.

The leaders also discussed the signing of a bilateral security agreement and preparations for an upcoming Peace Summit.

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