Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Moscow is open to peace talks with Ukraine but ruled out direct negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he dismissed as “illegitimate” due to his term expiring under martial law.
Zelenskyy hit back, accusing Putin of using “cynical tricks” to prolong the nearly three-year war and “afraid” of negotiation talks.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has pressured both sides to seek peace, threatening tougher sanctions on Russia while claiming Zelenskyy is open to a deal.
“If (Zelenskyy) wants to participate, I will allocate people to take part,” Putin said, specifying that any talks must align with Russia’s interests.
Kyiv has warned against being excluded from potential US-Russia negotiations, accusing Putin of trying to manipulate Trump.
Zelenskyy insisted the war could end if the Kremlin committed to “real peace” but accused Putin of deliberately stalling.
“Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“In 2014, Russia started a hybrid war against Ukraine, which it turned into a full-scale invasion in 2022. Now, there is a chance to achieve a real peace, but it is Putin who is doing everything in his power to either continue large-scale killings or secure a pause in order to continue hybrid attacks while preparing for a new full-scale invasion,” Ukrainian president added.
‘They will not exist for a month’ without western aid: Putin
Putin also claimed the war could end within two months if Western military and financial aid to Ukraine ceased. “They will not exist for a month if the money and bullets run out,” Russian president said.
Despite Trump’s promise to broker a swift ceasefire, the war has scaled-up. Russia claimed Wednesday to have downed over 100 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine reported Moscow had launched its own drone barrage.
Moscow’s forces also announced the capture of Dvorichna, a key village in Ukraine’s north-eastern Kharkiv region. The town had changed hands multiple times since the full-scale invasion began.
Meanwhile, Russian troops were reported to be advancing near Chasiv Yar, a strategic stronghold in Donetsk.
Amid growing battlefield challenges, Ukraine’s government dismissed a deputy defence minister responsible for weapons procurement, citing failures in securing timely ammunition supplies for frontline troops.