Photo: from open sources
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted sharply to Vladimir Putin’s statements on the terms of the ceasefire. According to the Ukrainian leader, the Kremlin is deliberately delaying the process to make real agreements impossible.
In an evening address on 13 March, Zelenskyy stressed that Moscow was preparing to abandon the idea of a truce, despite official statements about its readiness to negotiate.
Kyiv’s position: Russia is playing for time
“We have all heard from Russia very predictable, very manipulative words from Putin in response to the idea of silence at the front – he is actually preparing a refusal. Putin is afraid to say directly to President Trump that he wants to continue this war, he wants to kill Ukrainians. That is why they in Moscow are setting up the idea of silence with such preconditions that nothing will happen at all or that it will not happen for as long as possible,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the Kremlin is using the old tactic of delaying decisions, not refusing openly, but putting forward unacceptable conditions.
“We do not set conditions that complicate anything – Russia does. As we have always said, the only one who will delay everything, the only one who will be unconstructive, is Russia. They want war,” the Ukrainian president stressed.
Trump sees ‘promising’ signal, but does not trust Kremlin
US President Donald Trump called Putin’s announcement of a truce “promising but incomplete”. This may indicate Washington’s suspicion of Moscow’s manipulative intentions.
In response, Zelenskyy stressed that Russia continues the war day in and day out, and the world should instead increase pressure on the Kremlin.
“Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war. The only way to end it is to strengthen sanctions and international pressure,” the President of Ukraine stressed.
Kyiv calls on the US, EU and allies to continue sanctions pressure and work on mechanisms to force Russia to stop its aggression.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy/Telegram
