Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for a ceasefire, calling them an attempt to weaken Ukraine.
While Moscow agreed to a 30-day suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure, it also proposed a halt to all Western military aid—an idea immediately rejected by Kyiv and European leaders.
Russia’s Conditions and Ukraine’s Response
Following a two-hour call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia agreed to a temporary truce but conditioned any further negotiations on the complete cessation of military assistance to Ukraine.
As reported by Linternaute, Putin also requested an end to intelligence-sharing between Ukraine and its allies, a demand seen by many as an attempt to isolate Kyiv.
Zelensky, speaking from Finland, dismissed Putin’s proposal, stating that "his entire strategy is to weaken us as much as possible."
He accused Moscow of using the ceasefire talks to delay while continuing attacks, citing overnight strikes by 150 Russian drones on Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed these concerns, accusing Russia of "playing a game" rather than pursuing genuine peace.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Talks
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, dismissed Russia’s conditions as unacceptable. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Moscow was unwilling to make real concessions and warned that Western support for Ukraine must not waver. Meanwhile, China took a neutral stance, praising all efforts toward a ceasefire but avoiding direct criticism of Russia.
Upcoming Negotiations in Saudi Arabia
Despite skepticism over Russia’s intentions, negotiations on a broader ceasefire are set to begin Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed hope that both sides would reach agreements beyond the current limited truce. However, with Ukraine and its allies rejecting Putin’s conditions, the prospects for lasting peace remain uncertain.
