Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concerns that Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire is complicating efforts to end the war.
“We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation,” Zelensky said in a statement.
He will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC on Monday, where Trump is expected to urge Zelensky to agree to a peace deal.
Trump has shifted his stance on the war, suggesting that he wants to bypass a ceasefire in Ukraine and move directly to a permanent peace agreement after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The best way to end the horrific war” would be to negotiate a peace deal without a ceasefire, Trump wrote on Truth Social, citing that ceasefires often “do not hold up”.
Zelensky, however, emphasized the need for a real and lasting peace, stating that “the fire must cease” and killings stop.
Ukraine’s requirements for a “truly sustainable and reliable peace” include a “credible security guarantee” and the return of children allegedly “abducted from occupied territories” by Moscow.
The Russian proposal presented to Trump would require Ukraine to withdraw from the Donetsk region of the Donbas in exchange for Russia freezing the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
However, Zelensky has ruled out ceding control of the Donbas, saying it could be used as a springboard for future Russian attacks.
Trump reportedly relayed the offer to Zelensky in their call following the summit. European officials expressed concerns that Trump might pressure Zelensky into agreeing to terms discussed at the summit.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump advised Zelensky to “make a deal,” adding that “Russia’s a very big power and they’re not.”
Despite previous threats of “very severe consequences” if Putin did not agree to end the war, no agreement was reached during the talks.
Putin described the summit as “very useful,” while Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with Trump will be crucial in determining the future of the conflict.
European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have reacted cautiously to the outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting.
They emphasized the need for further talks, including President Zelensky, and stated that “international borders must not be changed by force.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts, saying they had “brought us closer than ever before,” but stressed that the “path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without” Zelensky.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky will be significant, given their tumultuous past interactions.
In February, a meeting between the two leaders ended in a heated exchange, with Trump criticizing Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance questioning Ukraine’s gratitude towards the US.
However, the two leaders appeared to reconcile in April during a brief meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral, described as “very productive” by the White House.