Volodymr Zelensky has hit back after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed in principle to a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but that Moscow had « serious questions » over how it would be implemented.
Mr Zelensky said: « Putin, of course, is afraid to say directly to President Trump that he wants to continue this war, he wants to kill Ukrainians.
« That’s why they in Moscow are framing the idea of silence with such preconditions that nothing will happen at all or that it will not happen for as long as possible. »
He added the Russian leader’s remarks were « very predictable » and simply an attempt to « drag things out ». He said: « They want a war. Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war – day after day. »
The comments came shortly after Donald Trump called Putin’s comments « promising » and urged the dictator to to « do the right thing » in accepting a ceasefire agreement.
Putin said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday that he agreed in principle with the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but he emphasized that the terms have yet to be worked out. He added any truce should pave the way to lasting peace, but address the root causes of the conflict, as Russia sees them.
The Russian leader said: « The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it, but there are issues we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk about it with our American colleagues and partners and, perhaps, have a call with President Trump and discuss it with him. »
Putin suggested Ukraine supports the ceasefire deal because it is on the back foot in the conflict, with Russian troops pushing the Ukrainians out of Russia‘s Kursk region, which Ukraine has occupied since last summer.
He also claimed Ukraine would use the 30 days to mobilize and rearm, an accusation which can also be levelled against Putin.
Mr Zelensky said that while Russia stalls for time, Ukraine is ready to work « as quickly as possible, as constructively as possible ».
He added: « We have spoken about this to American representatives, our European partners know about this, all our partners in the world.
« We are not setting conditions that complicate anything. This is what Russia is doing. As we have always said, the only one who will delay everything, the only one who will be unconstructive, is Russia.
« They need war. Putin stole years of peace and continues this war – day after day. Now we need to put pressure on him. We need to impose sanctions that will help. »
The Ukrainian president said Kyiv will continue to work with the US, Europe and « everyone in the world who wants peace » to force Russia to end the war.
Mr Trump said there have been « good signals » coming from Russia and offered guarded optimism about Putin’s remarks. He reiterated that he’s ready to speak with his Russian counterpart and underscored it was time to end the war.
Putin « put out a very promising statement, but it wasn’t complete », Trump said on Thursday at the start of a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
He added: « Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia’s there. And if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world. »
Putin thanked Mr Trump for paying « so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine » and thanked the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa for their « noble mission to end the fighting ».
That suggested those four countries could be involved in a ceasefire deal. Russia has said it will not accept peacekeepers from any NATO member states to monitor a prospective truce.
Putin’s seemingly friendly tone towards the White House reflects an astonishing shift in US relations with Russia and Ukraine since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January.
Under the administration of former President Joe Biden, the United States was Ukraine‘s staunchest and most powerful ally as it isolated the Kremlin. But Mr Trump’s election has thrown that policy into reverse.
Mr Trump briefly cut off critical military aid and intelligence sharing in an apparent effort to push Kyiv to enter talks to end the war.
Mr Zelensky had a testy meeting at the White House on February 28 in which Mr Trump questioned whether Ukraine wanted to halt the war.
The Trump administration has also repeatedly embraced Kremlin positions on the conflict, including by indicating that Ukraine‘s hopes of joining NATO are unlikely to be realised and it probably will not get back the land Russia’s army occupies, which amounts to almost a fifth of the country.
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