Zelensky accuses Russia of “purchase time” to talk truce

Volodimir Zelensky accused Russia of “trying to buy time” to continue his war in Ukraine, a day after Donald Trump said the progress of ceasefire was made in a call with Vladimir Putin.

“If Russia continues to highlight unrealistic conditions and undermine progress, there should be severe consequences,” the President of Ukraine wrote on social media, adding that Kyiv is ready to negotiate.

After some calls with Zelensky and Putin on Monday, Trump said the truce negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would start “immediately”.

Putin said he was ready to work on a “Memorandum of Possible Future Peaceful Agreement” but did not call for a 30-day pause in the fighting.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin reduced the proposals that the negotiations were close and Russian state news agencies, citing a press secretary Dmitry Pesko, stated that “there are no terms and they cannot be.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky started a fresh round of diplomacy, speaking with Western allies, trying to attract support.

After a phone call with the Finnish president, Zelensky wrote on social media that Ukraine cooperated with partners to ensure pressure on Moscow “forces the Russians to change their behavior”.

It took place when the European Union and the UK announced that they had adopted new tours of sanctions against Russia.

The EU stated that nearly 200 tankers were in the Black List, and warned of a “tougher response” if Moscow did not agree with the truce in Ukraine.

The UK has placed sanctions on another 18 tankers within its package aimed at Russian military suppliers, energy and financial export export.

Then there was a record attack on the drone in Ukraine last weekend, which the officials of Kiev called the largest since the beginning of a full -scale invasion.

On Monday, Trump said he would not join new sanctions against Russia, telling reporters that they could interfere with recent progress.

It happened as heavy fighting continued along the front line, and Ukraine reported 177 clashes and demanded more than 1000 Russian victims in 24 hours.

Speaking on the eve of the meeting of EU ministers on Tuesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistaria stated that prolonged attacks by Russia “say louder than the lip service we have heard for so long.”

“Putin clearly plays in time. Unfortunately, we must say that he is not very interested in the world,” he said.

Until now, Putin has refused the joint proposal of the United States-Ukraine for a 30-day ceasefire, and last week rejected Zelensky’s invitation to meet for negotiations in Istanbul. Trump suggested attending the negotiations when Putin was there, but the Russian leader refused.

The Kremlin has previously announced a temporary ceasefire, including 8-11 mets, which coincides with Russian victory celebrations in World War II. Kyiv refused to join, citing distrust and demanded immediately, sustainable ceasefire.

A similar 30-hour truce on Easter saw a short lull of battles, although both sides accused each other of hundreds of violations.

In February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have been waging war since Moscow has launched a full -scale invasion of Ukraine.