Zelensky Proposes Ceasefire, Trump Delays 'End of the World'

On April 8, 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made a crucial statement about Ukraine's readiness to mirror any possible ceasefire from Russia. In his message on the social network TG, he emphasized that Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war being waged by Russia against our state and its people. Zelensky stressed that peace in the Middle East and the Gulf creates opportunities for diplomatic efforts and reiterated that Ukraine is prepared to respond in kind if Russian troops cease their strikes. 'It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right conditions for agreements,' noted the president.

Zelensky also pointed out that various countries have been involved in the negotiation process in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of the diplomatic efforts made by the United States. This statement came in response to a night when U.S. President Donald Trump planned serious military actions against Iran.

In the night leading to April 8, Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he agreed to suspend bombings of Iran for two weeks if Iran immediately opens the Strait of Hormuz. 'Based on talks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Marshal Asim Munir, I agree to suspend bombings and attacks on Iran for a period of two weeks,' Trump wrote, emphasizing that this agreement entails a mutual ceasefire.

This announcement marked an unexpected turn of events, as Trump had previously promised to destroy Iran in one night and bomb all the country's bridges and power plants. He warned that if his demands were not met, 'entire civilizations would perish.' The ultimatum announced by Trump was set to expire at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (03:00 April 8 in Kyiv). Following these threats, Iran informed Pakistani intermediaries that it would no longer engage in negotiations with the United States regarding a ceasefire, but the situation quickly changed.

Trump's threats against Iran had the entire world anxiously awaiting developments. He crossed a line that no other American president had dared to approach, confirming that under his leadership, the U.S. had become the most unpredictable force on the planet, as reported by leading American media.

Despite the tension, Trump stated that the United States had achieved a 'complete and final victory' after reaching an agreement with Iran on a two-week ceasefire. 'Complete and final victory. 100%. Without a doubt,' he said. Iran's Supreme National Security Council also declared a 'victory,' noting that nearly all war objectives had been achieved, and their brave sons had brought the enemy to a state of historical helplessness.

In a statement released by Iranian state media, a 10-point peace plan from Tehran was mentioned, which includes regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz, halting attacks on Iran and its regional proxy forces, withdrawing American troops from the region, compensating Iran, lifting international sanctions, and unfreezing assets. Washington is currently reviewing this proposal, while Tehran is similarly examining the 15-point peace plan from the U.S.

President Zelensky also noted that Ukrainian expert military teams will continue to work in the Middle East during the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to develop security capabilities.

Trump also expressed the idea of a joint project with Iran regarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned, 'We are thinking of doing this as a joint venture,' in response to a question about how Tehran charges for passage through the strait. Previously, the strait was considered international waters, so ships did not pay for 'using' it.

Iran, in turn, will require shipping companies to pay a fee in cryptocurrency of $1 per barrel for tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz and to assess each vessel, as reported by the Financial Times.

Oil prices also reacted to the news of the temporary halt of U.S. strikes on Iran. On the morning of April 8, oil prices fell by more than 10%. The cost of June futures for Brent crude on the London ICE Futures exchange dropped by $14.31 (13.1%), to $94.96 per barrel. Prior to this, on April 7, the contract had decreased by $0.5 (0.5%), to $109.27 per barrel.

In Ukraine, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced a reduction in fuel prices, noting that she had met with the chairman of the board of Naftogaz of Ukraine regarding the current situation in the global oil and petroleum products markets. 'We are recording a decrease in quotes on major exchanges, which should directly impact fuel prices in Ukraine,' Svyrydenko wrote, adding that the state network of Ukrtnafta has already responded and started lowering prices.

However, experts warn that the decline in global oil and petroleum product prices will not lead to a rapid decrease in fuel prices at Ukrainian gas stations, as operators have already contracted significant volumes at higher prices.