Zelenski’s statements contrast with the optimism expressed by US President Donald Trump, after an expected conversation with Vladimir Putin on May 19.
Trump reported that the call was very good and declared that progress were made and that Russia and Ukraine will begin “immediately” negotiations For a high fire.
Putin, meanwhile, said he is willing to work with Ukraine in a “memorandum” about “An eventual future peace agreement”but did not access the ceasefire of 30 days Trump sought.
High Russian and Ukrainian officials met on May 16 in Istanbul to sustain the First direct conversations On the conflict in more than three years, without achieving any truce agreement.
“It is evident that Russia tries to save time to continue his war and his occupation”The Ukrainian President said in his social networks.
Trump tries to meet the promise he did during the campaign that he would achieve a cessation of fighting at 24 hours having returned to the White House, which is far from being completed.
Zelenski said that I had no details about the content of the “memorandum” cited by Putin, but that was willing to analyze Russia’s proposals.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and since then It occupies about 20% of the territory From this former Soviet republic, razed by this conflict that has left tens of thousands of dead.
Trump’s mediation comes at a time when Russia is confident in the advance of its troops in the front and, in addition, receives dialogue with the United States as a support, after the isolation and sanctions imposed by Western countries After the invasion.
Europeans announce more sanctions
Ukraine and his allies in Europe want to press Trump so Impose new sanctions on Russiaafter Putin refused to travel to Türkiye to participate directly in the negotiation for a ceasefire with Zelenski.
After the dialogue, senior Ukrainian officials accused the negotiators sent by Russia to perform requests that qualified as unacceptableincluding the withdrawal of the kyiv forces of broad stripes of the Ukrainian territory.
The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, urged the United States to adopt stronger actions, In case Russia does not accept a cessation of unconditional fire in Ukraine.
The United States already warned that “if Russia does not agree on an unconditional fire there would be consequences. So that We want to see those consequences from the United States”Kallas said when he arrived at a ministerial meeting in Brussels.
Zelenski reiterated this week that Ukraine and his allies need to strive to convince Trump of the need to impose more sanctions.
The EU adopted on Tuesday the 17th package of financial restrictions against Russia, a series of measures specifically directed against the ships that Moscow uses to avoid the sanctions, called “Ghost Flot.”
United Kingdom also announced more sanctions, directed against this fleet used by Russia for export your hydrocarbons.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Putin has strengthened ties with China and has also expanded the crude oil with India, resisting the sanctions.
China, which has been a key support for Moscow, said Tuesday that supports a dialogue and direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that advocates the political resolution of the crisis.
Beijing expects “that the parties involved continue dialogue and negotiation to achieve a Fair, lasting and binding peace agreementacceptable to all parties, ”said the spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning.