Zelensky says Putin is manipulating the ceasefire deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday slammed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

According to him, Putin is allegedly manipulating a ceasefire deal between the two countries.

An online media, Hindustan times reports that Zelensky claims Putin aims to achieve this by proposing conditions that will delay its progress.

Zelensky had written in a post on X,

“Right now, we have all heard from Russia Putin’s highly predictable and manipulative words in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front lines,

“at this moment he is, in fact, preparing to reject it.”

Putin had released a statement earlier, where he said that he was willing to commit to the ceasefire proposal suggested by the US.

He however required certain changes to be made.

In his statement, he had thanked key allies such US President Donald Trump and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi for their support.

On the otherhand however, he said,

“The idea itself is the right one, and we certainly support it.

“But there are questions that we have to discuss.

“I think we need to work with our American partners.

“Maybe I will speak to President Trump. But we support the idea of ending this conflict with peaceful means.” Putin added.

The Ukrainian President alleged that Putin was “afraid” to tell US President Donald Trump that he wanted to continue the war and “keep killing Ukrainians.”

According to Hindustan times, Zelensky said,

“That’s why, in Moscow, they are surrounding the ceasefire idea with such preconditions that it either fails or gets dragged out for as long as possible.

“Putin does this often—he doesn’t say ‘no’ outright, but he drags things out and makes reasonable solutions impossible.

“We see this as yet another round of Russian manipulation.”

Zelensky stated that the US proposal called for an unconditional ceasefire in the air, at sea and on the front lines, which Ukraine had accepted.

He also said the US, as well as European allies, were willing to organise and monitor the deal to ensure long-term security and lasting peace.

“Ukraine is ready to work as quickly and constructively as possible.

“We have discussed this with U.S. representatives, and our European partners, as well as all our allies worldwide, are aware of it,” he said.

Zelensky further said, “We are not setting conditions that complicate the process—Russia is.

“As we have always said, the only one stalling, the only one being unconstructive, is Russia.

“They need this war. Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war day after day.”

He also stressed that now was the time to put pressure on Putin through sanctions.

Zelensky said that Ukraine would continue working with America and European allies to bring an end to the war.

On March 11, Ukraine officially agreed to an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended if Russia agreed to it as well.

The ceasefire would bring an end to a three-year-long war between the two countries.

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