Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of effectively rejecting a U.S.-backed full ceasefire proposal, urging the world to prevent Moscow from prolonging the war. While Putin agreed to pause strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, he declined a 30-day ceasefire, falling short of U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a broader peace deal.
Zelenskiy initially supported the limited ceasefire on energy targets but later condemned Russia's massive drone assault on civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy. "Putin de facto rejected the complete ceasefire," he stated on Telegram, calling for global resistance against Moscow’s tactics. The White House emphasized that the Trump-Putin call aimed at advancing peace negotiations, with another round of talks set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Hours after the call, Russia launched over 40 drones, missiles, and guided bombs at Ukraine, targeting key cities, including Kyiv. Zelenskiy reported that since the first Saudi talks in March, Russia had fired more than 1,300 guided bombs, eight missiles, and 600 long-range drones at Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has countered with strikes on Russian oil infrastructure to disrupt Moscow’s war machine.
Following the Putin-Trump discussion, Zelenskiy held urgent talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reaffirming their support for Ukraine. He dismissed Putin’s demands to end Western military aid and limit Ukraine’s military draft, warning that such conditions would only weaken Kyiv’s defense.
As the war drags on, Zelenskiy remains steadfast in his call for international backing, emphasizing that any delay in stopping Russia's aggression will only fuel further destruction.