Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deliberately dragging out peace negotiations, warning that Moscow is “trying to buy time” to continue its invasion of Ukraine. His comments came just a day after Donald Trump claimed there had been progress toward a ceasefire during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions and undermine progress, there must be tough consequences,” Zelensky wrote on social media, emphasizing that Kyiv remains open to negotiations.
After holding separate calls with both Zelensky and Putin on Monday, Trump announced that truce talks between Russia and Ukraine would begin “immediately.” However, while Putin expressed willingness to discuss a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” he did not commit to a 30-day pause in hostilities, as proposed by Kyiv and Washington.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by stating that it was now up to Ukraine to respond to the draft memorandum. Yet, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov signaled that negotiations were not imminent, telling Russian media, “there are no deadlines and there cannot be any.”
As diplomatic efforts intensified, Zelensky launched a new round of outreach to Western allies, urging continued support to pressure Moscow. After speaking with Finland’s president, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to working with partners to force Russia to change its behavior.
The latest diplomatic moves coincided with new sanctions from the European Union and the United Kingdom. The EU announced it would blacklist nearly 200 more Russian oil tankers and warned of an even “tougher response” if Moscow did not agree to a truce. The UK, for its part, sanctioned 18 additional tankers and expanded its measures against Russian military suppliers, energy exports, and financial institutions.
The sanctions come after what Kyiv officials described as the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Over the weekend, Ukraine reported 177 clashes along the front line and claimed more than 1,000 Russian casualties in a single day.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump suggested he would not support additional sanctions on Russia, arguing that such steps might undermine diplomatic progress. The Kremlin, for its part, has rejected Zelensky’s latest invitation for direct talks in Istanbul and brushed off calls for a month-long ceasefire.
Temporary ceasefires have been announced by Russia in the past, including one coinciding with Victory Day celebrations in May. However, Kyiv has refused to participate, citing a lack of trust and demanding a sustained end to hostilities. Brief truces over Easter saw momentary lulls, but both sides accused each other of numerous violations.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has continued since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with no comprehensive ceasefire or peace agreement yet in sight.
