"Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it," Zelenskiy said, addressing a summit in Brussels on Thursday where European leaders have gathered to discuss defence spending and support for Ukraine after the US paused military aid to Kyiv.
"This can be proved by two forms of silence that are easy to establish and monitor, namely, no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure – truce for missiles, bombs, and long-range drones, and the second is truce on the water, meaning no military operations in the Black Sea," Zelenskiy added.
He underlined that any such truce could only be seen as a first step towards comprehensive agreement on ending the war and providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the release of all prisoners of war could also be a means of establishing "basic trust".
Zelenskiy once again stressed the need to adhere to the principle of no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine after US President Donald Trump engaged in bilateral talks with Russia, sidelining Kyiv and European leaders.
"Anything that affects the security of Europe should be resolved with the participation of Europe," he added, welcoming a new rearmament plan to boost the EU's defence spending.
The summit in Brussels takes place after a disastrous Zelenskiy-Trump clash in the Oval Office last week, and weeks of harsh criticism of Zelenskiy from the Trump administration as the US president presses for prompt end to Russia's war in Ukraine.
"Let me emphasise once again that Ukrainians do really want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine," Zelenskiy said.
As Ukrainian and American officials agreed to hold a meeting next week, Zelenskiy expressed hope that it would be "meaningful".
Meanwhile, Ukraine's former army chief and current ambassador to Britain Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has accused the US of "destroying" the current world order.
The popular general, who led Ukraine's defence in the first two years of Moscow's full-scale invasion, said Ukraine had held onto its independence despite "animus and threats coming even from friends".
His sharp remarks, made at London's Chatham House think tank, came after Trump froze military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in moves to push Zelenskiy into peace talks with Russia, while refusing to offer Kyiv security guarantees.
"It's obvious the White House has questioned the unity of the whole Western world," Zaluzhnyi said, adding: "Because we see that it's not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order."
European leaders on Thursday said they would stand by Ukraine - and boost defence spending - to enable them to stand up to Russia. But the US has been a key backer, and its intelligence, equipment and financial support have been crucial for Kyiv.
Zaluzhnyi is broadly popular in Ukraine and is seen as a potential challenger to Zelenskiy when Ukraine holds elections, although he has voiced no clear ambitions to run for office.
