Ukraine has thrown its support behind a call for a temporary ceasefire with Russia during the upcoming Winter Olympics, backing an appeal rooted in the ancient Olympic tradition of laying

down arms during the Games.

The proposal, promoted by Italy and the Vatican, urges warring parties to observe a truce during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 6–22, alongside a related United Nations resolution calling for a global pause in hostilities.

Speaking to Reuters in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine had formally supported the initiative, stressing that responsibility now lay with Moscow to clarify its stance.

“We support this appeal,” Sybiha said. “Ukraine is interested in a ceasefire. If Russia once again rejects this proposal, it will clearly demonstrate who is blocking peace and who wants to continue this war.”

The Pope on Sunday referenced the centuries-old concept of an Olympic truce, urging political leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps toward de-escalation and dialogue in the name of peace.

Ukraine remains locked in intense fighting nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian forces currently occupy close to 20% of Ukrainian territory, while repeated missile and drone attacks have severely damaged the country’s energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the United States continues efforts to broker an end to the conflict, hosting multiple rounds of talks involving both Kyiv and Moscow. Despite these diplomatic pushes, a lasting settlement has remained elusive, with battlefield violence continuing unabated.

For Ukraine, officials say, support for the Olympic truce is both a diplomatic signal and a test of Russia’s intentions — one that could once again underscore the deep divide between calls for peace and the realities of war. Photo by Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar , Wikimedia commons.