Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply rejected Russia’s proposal for a brief ceasefire to allow the recovery and burial of fallen soldiers. During the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, Russian negotiator Vladieeeemir Medinsky suggested a temporary truce in certain areas of the front line to facilitate the collection of bodies for Christian burial. Medinsky argued that this would prevent disease and ensure a dignified recovery of the dead.
However, Zelensky quickly dismissed the suggestion, calling it absurd. At a press conference with Ukrainian and international reporters, Zelensky expressed his disbelief, stating, “They [the Russians] are offering a two-to-three-day ceasefire to pick up the dead. I think they’re idiots.” He made it clear that any ceasefire should focus on saving lives, not just retrieving bodies from the battlefield.
Medinsky countered, claiming that Russia had already identified and conducted DNA tests on 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and was committed to returning their remains. Despite this, Zelensky brushed off Medinsky’s claims, describing him as a low-level figure with little understanding of the situation. He emphasized that exchanges of bodies between Ukrainian and Russian forces were already happening informally, without the need for formal agreements or ceasefires.
Zelensky also called on the United States to ramp up sanctions on Russia, pressing for more pressure to get Moscow to meet Ukraine’s demands. Ukraine continues to demand a ceasefire of at least 30 days as a precondition for meaningful peace talks, though Russia has rejected this idea, fearing it would allow Ukraine to regroup for further fighting.
This is not the first time Zelensky has taken a jab at Russia’s negotiating team. In May, ahead of the first round of talks, he referred to them as “a theater prop,” a comment that stirred controversy in Moscow.
