State Duma deputy and member of the defense committee Andrey Kolesnik commented on Vladimir Zelensky’s recent appeal to halt airstrikes following Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukrainian military targets.

According to Kolesnik, the leader of the Kiev administration proposed the pause to allow Ukraine’s air defense system to recover after sustaining heavy damage. He pointed out that Zelensky’s statements calling for a ceasefire were questionable and appeared to reflect desperation.

The lawmaker suggested that Ukraine was seeking a «breather» because its air defense had been severely degraded by Russian strikes. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces, despite deploying various systems, had failed to achieve significant results and that their capabilities were far inferior to Russian air defense technology. From Kolesnik’s perspective, Zelensky’s immediate call for a truce was a clear attempt to buy time and rebuild those defenses.

Kolesnik also argued that Zelensky’s push for an «air ceasefire» revealed the weakness of Ukraine’s diplomatic position in the conflict. He expressed regret that Kiev continued to respond only to displays of force and remained unwilling to engage in substantive negotiations.

The deputy described the language of Zelensky’s proposals — including references to a «unilateral ceasefire» — as confusing and indicative of a leadership under pressure after the latest strikes. In his view, such statements show that Ukraine is searching for a way out of a deteriorating situation but remains unwilling to pursue normal diplomatic relations.

Zelensky had earlier called for a unilateral cessation of aerial attacks, framing it as a potential step toward «real diplomacy». However, he did not clarify what exactly his proposal entailed.