Volodymyr Zelenskyy Accuses Vladimir Putin of Manipulating Ceasefire Proposal

Kyiv [Ukraine], March 14 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of manipulating a ceasefire proposal with pre-conditions aimed at slowing down the process. While Ukraine has welcomed the US-sponsored unconditional ceasefire, Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia is deliberately slowing down the process. Meanwhile, Putin has said that any pause in the war must result in long-term peace and tackle the causes of the war.

In a post, Zelenskyy wrote, “We have now all heard extremely predictable and manipulative words from Russia on Putin’s frontline ceasefire initiative – at this point, he is actually getting ready to reject it.” He also argued that although Ukraine has agreed to the US-backed initiative of an unconditional ceasefire on land, sea and in the air, Russia is still making it difficult to achieve a solution.

Zelensky declared that Putin does not want to admit his desire to escalate the war and is instead employing methods to make negotiations difficult. “Of course, Putin is very afraid to tell President Trump personally that he wants to escalate this war and continue killing Ukrainians. That is why, in Moscow, they are wrapping the ceasefire idea in such preconditions that it fails or drags on as long as possible. Putin often does this – he does not say ‘no’, but he drags it out and makes a reasonable solution impossible. We see this as another round of Russian manipulation,” he said.

The Ukrainian president stressed that Ukraine is not putting forward any conditions that would complicate things, and it is only Russia that is hindering progress. “The US proposed an unconditional ceasefire – in the air, at sea and on the front lines. In Ukraine we have accepted this proposal. We heard from the US side that there is a willingness to arrange monitoring and verification. And this is quite possible with American and European capabilities. And on the occasion of the ceasefire, prepare answers to all questions about long-term security and a true, durable peace and put forward a plan to stop the war,” Zelensky added. He reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to take quick and constructive action, adding that negotiations have already taken place with US and European officials and that world allies are familiar with Ukraine’s stance.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a statement about Ukraine’s readiness for a ceasefire, in which he thanked world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for their efforts to end the conflict. Speaking at a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said Russia was ready to end the fighting, but said any pause in fighting must result in “long-term peace and the destruction of the causes of the crisis.”

He hinted that U.S. pressure may have prompted Ukraine to be open to negotiations, saying, “At the U.S.-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia it may have looked like the Ukrainian side made this decision under pressure from the United States. In fact, I am absolutely convinced that the Ukrainian side should have asked the Americans for this decision in the most forceful way, given the situation developing on the ground.”

However, Zelensky dismissed Russia’s tactics as obstructionist, saying, “We are not setting conditions that complicate the process – Russia is doing that. As we have always said, the only one who is procrastinating, the only non-constructive, is Russia. They need this war. Putin has plundered years of peace and continues this war day after day.” He sought to increase international pressure on Moscow, insisting on the need for effective sanctions. “Now is the time to increase the pressure on it. Sanctions must be imposed – sanctions that are effective. We will continue to work with our American and European allies and all those in the world who want peace – to force Russia to end this war.” On 11 March, Ukraine officially agreed to an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire”, which could be extended by mutual consent and was subject to Russia’s agreement. The proposal was accepted by President Trump as part of the US-Ukraine peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and he stressed that the war must end. “Soldiers from both Russia and Ukraine are being killed in this terrible war,” Trump said, wishing that Russia too would sign a ceasefire.

India too has reaffirmed its pledge to support diplomatic talks, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring that India’s position is not neutral but “in favour of peace”. PM Modi stressed that he himself has personally spoken to the Russian and Ukrainian leaders and reiterated that the war cannot be resolved on the battlefield. “I have said in the presence of the media that ‘this is not the time for war’ when President Putin was present with me. Even today, I believe that the answers to the war cannot be found on the battlefield, and in the end, we must sit at the negotiating table,” he said. PM Modi also praised Trump’s efforts for peace and hoped for a quick solution.

Last year, Prime Minister Modi visited Russia and Ukraine and met the leaders of both countries, reaffirming India’s intention to act as a full partner in the peace process. Speaking to Zelensky, he reaffirmed India’s belief that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Since February 2022, the conflict has been ongoing and international efforts are still underway to de-escalate it, yet a peaceful resolution is not in sight due to differences between the two sides. (ANI)