Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deliberately delaying peace negotiations to prolong its three-year war, even as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to broker an immediate ceasefire.
The remarks come after a flurry of diplomatic activity that included phone calls between Trump, Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The outreach followed the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in over three years, held in Istanbul last Friday. However, the talks failed to produce a truce.
“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation,” Zelensky said in a social media post. He criticized Moscow for sending “empty heads” to the negotiating table and warned that further delays would only deepen the suffering caused by the war, which began in February 2022.
Trump, who has vowed to resolve the conflict within 24 hours if re-elected, described his two-hour call with Putin, the third this year, as a potential breakthrough. Yet Putin stopped short of agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, instead proposing a “memorandum” outlining divergent positions and a possible roadmap toward peace.
Zelensky admitted he had no details on the proposed memorandum but said Ukraine remained open to constructive ideas. Still, skepticism remains high. In Moscow, residents expressed doubt about any meaningful outcome. “I don’t think anything will come of it,” said Anastasiya, a 40-year-old freelancer. “They want to cheat us as usual.”
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius echoed that sentiment, arguing the call showed Putin was not “genuinely interested in peace.” Russian forces continue to make battlefield gains, reinforcing perceptions that Moscow is using negotiations to stall while advancing militarily.
Kyiv and the European Union are now urging Washington to impose new sanctions on Russia, particularly targeting its banking and energy sectors. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the need for consequences if Russia refuses an unconditional ceasefire. “We want to see those consequences, also from the US side,” she said in Brussels.
On Tuesday, the EU adopted its 17th sanctions package against Moscow, targeting 200 vessels tied to Russia’s shadow fleet. The move provoked criticism from Russian officials, who accused Western powers of sabotaging U.S.-Russia dialogue.
Despite mounting pressure, Putin remains defiant, boasting of Russia’s resilience to Western sanctions and strengthening economic ties with India and China. Beijing, meanwhile, has reiterated its support for direct talks and a “fair, lasting and binding peace agreement.”
As diplomatic tensions rise and the battlefield remains active, Zelensky warned that only serious negotiation efforts and decisive international pressure could bring an end to the war. “Ukraine is ready for any negotiation format that delivers results,” he said. “But if Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions, there must be tough consequences.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
