Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of preparing to reject a ceasefire proposal while attempting to avoid direct confrontation with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In his Thursday evening address, Zelenskyy claimed that Moscow is deliberately setting conditions on a ceasefire to delay or prevent it altogether.
“He is, in fact, preparing to reject it because Putin is, of course, scared to tell President Trump that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy stated.
Russia’s Stalling Tactics
The Ukrainian leader argued that Russia’s insistence on specific conditions for a ceasefire is a strategy designed to obstruct meaningful negotiations.
“In Moscow, they are attaching conditions to the ceasefire idea to ensure that it either does not happen at all or is delayed as long as possible,” Zelenskyy said.
U.S. and Europe Ready to Monitor Ceasefire
Zelenskyy noted that Washington had expressed its willingness to organize control and verification mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of any ceasefire agreement.
“This is something that can be achieved with the capabilities of the United States and Europe,” he added.
Call for Lasting Peace
The Ukrainian president emphasized that a ceasefire would provide an opportunity to address long-term security concerns and create a concrete plan to end the war in a sustainable and reliable manner.
His remarks highlight ongoing tensions as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
