The remarks came after overnight attacks killed several people across Ukraine, despite both sides announcing unilateral pauses in hostilities on different dates. Moscow has proposed a ceasefire around its May 9 Victory Day celebrations, while Kyiv said it would halt fire on May 6.

“It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day,” Zelensky said in a statement, adding that Russia could end the war at any time by stopping its attacks.In the central Poltava region, a Russian strike killed four people, including employees of state energy firm Naftogaz and emergency responders, Ukrainian officials said.

Authorities described the incident as a “double-tap” strike, in which a second attack targets rescuers responding to an initial hit.In the northeastern Kharkiv region, one person was killed as Russia launched a broader wave of attacks involving ballistic missiles and drones, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Russia’s defense ministry said it had intercepted more than 300 Ukrainian drones over the same period, reflecting intensifying aerial exchanges between the two sides.The Kremlin has scaled back its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow amid concerns about potential Ukrainian strikes, with no military hardware expected to be displayed this year.

Despite periodic ceasefire announcements, there is no indication of progress toward a broader settlement. Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donbas region and abandon Western military support, conditions Kyiv has rejected.

The conflict, now in its fourth year, remains the deadliest in Europe since World War Two, with both sides continuing long-range strikes far beyond front-line positions.

Writing in Foreign Affairs, Zarif said Iran should offer to limit its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a comprehensive lifting of U.S. sanctions, a proposal he said Washington had previously rejected but might now consider under changed circumstances.

The remarks come as the United States has put forward a 15-point ceasefire framework that includes restoring maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, though there has been no indication of progress in negotiations.

Zarif, who played a central role in negotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement, no longer holds an official government position but remains an influential figure. Analysts note that such proposals are unlikely to be published without at least informal alignment with senior leadership in Tehran.

Iranian officials have repeatedly pointed to past instances in which negotiations with Washington coincided with military action, including the current conflict, as a source of distrust.

Zarif also criticized previous U.S. negotiating representatives, including Jared Kushner, questioning their expertise in geopolitics and nuclear policy.

The proposal underscores tentative signals of diplomatic maneuvering amid ongoing hostilities, even as military exchanges and tensions in the region continue.

In an interview published Monday, Trump said the United States was in talks with Qalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard commander. Qalibaf denied the assertion in a statement, saying Washington was “promoting desires as news while threatening our nation at the same time.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also dismissed the claim. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said no negotiations had taken place, though he confirmed that intermediaries had conveyed proposals to Tehran.

Baghaei said Iran would not overlook what he described as past breaches of diplomacy, referring to indirect talks in 2025 and early 2026 that were followed by military action involving the United States and Israel.

War pressure shapes diplomacy claimsThe exchange comes as Trump has increased pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth week following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes launched in late February.

Trump warned that failure to reach a deal “shortly” could result in widespread destruction of Iran’s energy infrastructure and critical facilities, including desalination plants.

Qalibaf’s role under scrutinyQalibaf, long viewed as a pragmatic conservative within Iran’s political system, has previously been mentioned as a potential interlocutor for Western governments.

However, questions remain about his authority within Iran’s complex power structure following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February airstrike.His successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is believed to maintain ties with Qalibaf, though competing centers of power within Iran’s leadership continue to shape decision-making.

Analysts say references to Qalibaf as a negotiating channel may reflect both external pressure tactics and internal political maneuvering, as Tehran navigates wartime conditions and diplomatic isolation.