Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed suspending drone, cruise missile and rocket attacks on civilian targets for at least 30 days.
This would be a compromise after Russia refused to agree to a general, longer ceasefire.
Zelensky called for a 30-day ceasefire as the Easter truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to an end on Sunday.
It calls for any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure to cease for a period of at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension.
“If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war,” Zelensky said of the truce proposal.
While he again lamented numerous violations of the 30-hour suspension of hostilities ordered by Putin himself on Saturday, he made it clear that there were opportunities for a limited ceasefire.
But he noted that “there were no air raid alerts today.” He concluded: “Hence, this is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend.”
In the war that has been going on for more than three years, Ukraine complains above all of almost daily heavy airstrikes by Russia, whihc cause massive damage to energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Civilians are repeatedly killed or injured in the process.
Although Russia insists that it is only attacking military targets, images show almost daily evidence of hits on residential buildings and other civilian targets.
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