Zelensky does not believe in Putin's will for peace

2025-03-14 09:57:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's reaction to the ceasefire proposal as "manipulative." Putin has imposed conditions in an attempt to buy time.

"We all heard from Russia the expected and very manipulative words of Vladimir Putin," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address.

Putin does not dare to openly tell US President Donald Trump that he will continue the war, Zelensky further said.

"And why do they in Moscow link the idea of ??a ceasefire to such conditions, so that nothing can be achieved or that it cannot be achieved for as long as possible?"

According to Zelensky's data, this is a frequent trick of Putin's, which does not clearly speak of making everything possible, but of postponing or making it impossible.

Putin is open in principle to a ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been open in principle to a ceasefire, but has yet to clarify the details.

Putin wants this to happen only with conditions. In a press conference, Putin made Moscow's approval of the US proposal for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war conditional and expressed doubts about whether such a ceasefire could be supervised.

Although Moscow prefers the proposal for a cessation of hostilities, such ceasefires must "lead to a sustainable peace and address the deep-rooted causes of this crisis," Putin said. Russian and U.S. representatives will now continue talks on the proposal.

In contrast, Zelensky once again emphasized in his criticism Ukraine's readiness for a limited cessation of hostilities. Kiev has accepted the ceasefire proposal because the US has expressed its readiness to supervise it.

"Ukraine, ready for peace"

There are still serious doubts in Ukraine about Russia's readiness for peace. Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, declared on television that Ukraine will not accept a frozen conflict with Russia. Ukraine has agreed with the US that European representatives must be involved in the peace process. What does the ceasefire proposal envisage?

The US and Ukraine have agreed on a ceasefire proposal. US President Donald Trump, in a previous meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington, hinted at the content of the draft agreed between the US and Ukraine.

"We have not acted blindly. We have talked to Ukraine about lands and territories that will be held and lost," Trump said.

There is also a "very large power plant" that has been the subject of negotiations - the question is who will "get" it in the future. Trump did not provide further details on this.

But the Ukrainian nuclear power plant, Zaporizhia, occupied by Russia in the early days of the war, is located close to the front. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe./ DW