Putin Manipulating Ceasefire Talks - Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about the conditions for ending hostilities, calling them manipulative and predictable, Orda.kz reports.

According to Zelenskyy, Putin is already preparing to reject the idea of a ceasefire while avoiding direct opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump.

And that's why they, in Moscow, surround the idea of silence with such preconditions that nothing will work out at all, or that it won't work out for as long as possible. Putin often does this — he doesn't say 'no' directly, but he does it in such a way that everything is only delayed. We believe that all this now is yet another Russian manipulation, Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is ready to work quickly and constructively to establish a lasting peace. He noted that the U.S. and European countries have the capacity to monitor and verify any agreement, ensuring that a comprehensive plan to end the war can be developed during the ceasefire period.

We do not set conditions that complicate anything. Russia does this (...) Putin continues this war — day after day. Now we need to put pressure on him. We need to introduce sanctions that will help. We will continue to work with our American and European partners, with everyone in the world who wants peace, to force Russia to end the war, he added.

Putin commented for the first time on Ukraine’s agreement to a ceasefire, stating that while a 30-day truce is a positive step, "nuances" still need to be discussed.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko