Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of preparing to reject a ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States during recent talks in Saudi Arabia. Zelenskyy claimed that Putin is afraid to admit this directly to former US President Donald Trump.
“He is, in fact, preparing a rejection at present because Putin is scared to tell President Trump that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy stated.
Ukraine: Russia Stalling Ceasefire Talks
Zelenskyy suggested that Russia is deliberately delaying the ceasefire or trying to avoid it altogether. He accused Moscow of imposing unnecessary conditions to prolong the conflict.
“Putin does this often—he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, but he drags things out and makes reasonable solutions impossible. This is yet another round of Russian manipulation,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader maintained that his country was willing to accept the ceasefire unconditionally, while Russia was the one complicating the process. He also confirmed that the US was prepared to monitor and verify the truce.
“A ceasefire would provide time to prepare answers for long-term security and a real, reliable peace,” he added.
Putin Responds to Ceasefire Proposal
In response, Putin said he had “serious questions” about the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington but indicated that Moscow was open to discussions with Trump.
“We agree with the idea of ceasing hostilities. The proposal is correct, and we support it,” Putin stated. However, he emphasized the need for detailed discussions to ensure that the truce leads to “long-term peace.”
Putin also insisted that mechanisms be put in place to prevent Ukraine from using the ceasefire to rearm and mobilize further troops.
Trump Calls Putin’s Remarks ‘Promising’
Reacting to Putin’s statement, Trump described it as “very promising but not complete.”
“Hopefully, Russia will do the right thing,” he said, expressing optimism that Moscow would take steps toward peace.
The ceasefire discussions took place during bilateral talks between the US and Ukraine in Jeddah earlier this week. Following the meeting, both sides confirmed Ukraine’s willingness to accept the ceasefire, while Russia’s stance remains uncertain.
Comments