Ukrainian President Zelensky accuses Russia of trying to prolong the war
European leaders have agreed to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war. At a virtual meeting of the "coalition of the willing" organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European leaders said that the Ukraine war should end through negotiations and that it is necessary to put more pressure on Putin.
The leaders participating in the meeting also promised to provide more support to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte and leaders of 26 countries participated in the meeting along with Prime Minister Starmer.
The meeting also discussed military and financial support to Ukraine and the future peace process if Russian President Putin supports the ceasefire proposal. At the meeting, British Prime Minister Starmer said there was no option for Putin to come to the negotiating table sooner or later. "My experience is that sooner or later he will have to come to the negotiating table and engage in serious discussions," Starmer said. "I think that means strengthening Ukraine so that they can defend themselves." Although Russian President Putin is in favor of a ceasefire in principle, he has said that some issues need to be clarified. Starmer says that by accepting the ceasefire proposal, Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine is in favor of peace. "He has unconditionally agreed and committed to a 30-day ceasefire," he said. Starmer says that if Putin is serious about peace, he should stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire. He added, 'The world is watching.'
Ukrainian President Zelensky has said that peace must begin without any conditions. He emphasized that if they are not ready for this, they should put a lot of pressure on Russia. "Russia's silence on the 30-day truce seems like Putin is trying to prolong the war," Zelensky said. He said through social media that "Russia is doing everything to stop the ceasefire". This is Russia's war. To prevent this, active pressure is needed, not just negotiations.'' Zelenskiy called not only Europe and G-7, but all other countries around the world to unite for peace. "The world should understand that the only obstacle to peace is Russia," he said.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in the Russian capital Moscow to discuss the ceasefire proposal, met with Putin on Thursday. Trump later said that the talks had been fruitful and that he was hopeful that the Russian president would support the ceasefire proposal. "I'm hopeful that there are some good signals coming from Russia in terms of a ceasefire and ultimately a deal," Trump said. But Russian President Putin has been reluctant to call for a ceasefire. Analysts say that Putin is reluctant to rush for an immediate ceasefire even as the Russian army has gained speed in the war zone.
Putin calls on Ukrainian forces in Kursk to surrender
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the surrender of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused him of trying to undermine the ceasefire initiative.
"If they give up their weapons and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and honorable treatment," Putin said in a speech broadcast on Russian television.
Recapturing most of the territory captured by Ukraine last August, Russia has retaliated sharply in the western border region of Kursk for the past week. The defeat of the Kursk region is considered a major blow for Ukraine. The capture of this area was considered to be used as an important 'bargaining' for the end of the 3-year-long war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has claimed that although the situation in Kursk is somewhat difficult, it is not as Putin said. "The situation in the Kursk region is certainly difficult, but the campaign is still important," Zelensky said, adding, "The army is not surrounded." Our forces are blocking Russian and North Korean groups in the Kursk region.'
