Zelensky cites Oleshky pause in argument for broader ceasefire

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says a past humanitarian pause in Oleshky shows that a broader ceasefire decision could be made quickly, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political will is the main obstacle.

Zelensky argued that a ceasefire need not depend on lengthy technical preparations, according to his account. The Kyiv Independent reported the argument on November 7, citing a CNN interview.

Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, described a separate process for the Oleshky mission. In his account, preparation followed resident appeals received in late February, and negotiations involved a separate Ukrainian group and U.S. partners. Ukraine proposed having representatives of the sides physically present at the site to oversee implementation, he said.

The wider diplomatic process includes planned Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. delegation talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, CBS News reported. In a November 6 CBS interview, Ukrainian presidential office head Kyrylo Budanov said he expected discussion of postwar security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia and expressed restrained optimism about progress toward an eventual Zelensky–Putin meeting.

Rustem Umerov will lead Ukraine’s delegation to those talks, with Budanov attending, lawmaker David Arakhamia told The Kyiv Independent after a November 6 Washington briefing.