Zelensky claims Putin fears Trump, manipulates ceasefire response
Putin is afraid to oppose Trump and is therefore manipulating the response to the ceasefire initiative, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Thursday evening, referring to comments made by Vladimir Putin during a conference attended by Alexander Lukashenko.
Putin questioned why Ukrainians would need a 30-day ceasefire, suggesting it might be for mobilization or to deliver weapons to Kyiv. According to him, Ukraine might be interested in regrouping its forces. "How will we have confidence and assurance that nothing like that will happen?" he asked.
However, the Russian leader stated that Russia supports the American proposal to end the conflict by peaceful means but emphasized that any ceasefire should result in lasting peace, meaning it must address the fundamental causes of the conflict.
He also mentioned that if a ceasefire occurs, it is unclear how the situation will develop in Russia’s Kursk region and other areas. Therefore, he declared, the next steps regarding the conflict must be agreed upon, considering the situation on the front lines.
Zelensky: Putin is afraid to speak directly
Putin's Thursday statements were commented on in an evening recording by Volodymyr Zelensky. According to his remarks, the leader of Russia, in fear of Donald Trump, is manipulating the response to the ceasefire initiative in the war that his country is waging against Ukraine.
"Just a moment ago, we all heard very predictable, very manipulative words from Putin in response to the idea of silence on the front—in reality, he is now preparing a refusal," Zelensky said.
The President of Ukraine assessed that Putin is afraid to tell Trump directly that he wants to continue the war, 'to kill Ukrainians.'
In his statement, Zelensky also emphasized the need for increased international pressure on the Russian leader and the introduction of sanctions to compel Russia towards peace.
