Zelenskyy accuses Putin of 'preparing' to refuse US ceasefire proposal

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "preparing to refuse" a ceasefire proposed by Washington during talks with Kyiv in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

On Tuesday, US and Ukrainian delegations met in the Saudi city of Jeddah to discuss prospects for a possible Moscow-Kyiv peace deal, after which a joint statement declared Kyiv’s readiness to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington.

Today, Putin said that his country agrees with the proposals to end hostilities amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but added that Moscow will accept the proposals only if it would “lead to long-term peace and eliminate the initial causes of this crisis.”

“Now we have all heard from Russia very predictable, very manipulative words from Putin in response to the idea of silence on the front - he is actually preparing a refusal as of now,” Zelenskyy said during an evening video address shared on his Telegram account.

Accusing Putin of “another Russian manipulation,” Zelenskyy claimed his counterpart is “afraid” to tell US President Donald Trump that he wants to continue the conflict.

“Putin often does this - he does not say ‘no’ directly, but does so in a way that practically only delays everything and makes normal decisions impossible,” he further said.

Zelenskyy went on to express Ukraine’s readiness to work as quickly and as constructively as possible regarding the ceasefire proposal, calling for further pressure on Moscow to “force Russia to end the war.”

“We are not setting conditions that complicate anything. This is what Russia is doing. As we have always said, the only one who will delay everything, the only one who will be unconstructive, is Russia,” he added.