Media: Zelenskyy slams Putin's ceasefire terms as unacceptable to Ukraine, Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that the Kremlin leader made "maximalist" demands in regard to the ceasefire, which are likely to be unacceptable to Ukraine and other European countries. 

President Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces are working to encircle Ukrainian troops in the northeastern region of Ukraine, which borders Russia's Kursk region, as negotiations toward a potential temporary ceasefire continue, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Zelenskyy explained to reporters in Kyiv on March 15 that while Russia has made advancements in the Kursk region, attempting to push back Ukrainian soldiers who have controlled parts of the area since last summer, Ukrainian forces have not been encircled, despite Kremlin claims that were further amplified by US President Donald Trump.

"Russia wants to encircle Ukrainian troops on the same axis, but on Ukraine’s territory," Zelenskyy said. "We have a clear understanding of where they want to do this." Serhiy Nikiforov, a spokesperson for Zelenskyy, clarified that the Ukrainian president was referring to the Sumy region, which directly borders Kursk. Russia is reportedly seeking to secure a stronger position ahead of a potential temporary ceasefire proposal that was presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week by both Ukraine and the US, according to Zelenskyy. The US recently sent envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to engage in talks over the ceasefire proposals, but Washington has yet to respond to Putin's demands.

Zelenskyy expressed his expectation that the US will provide a “clear” and “firm” response should Putin reject the proposed ceasefire. Additionally, Zelenskyy emphasised that Russia’s ongoing military offensives, including the possibility of pushing ground forces into the Sumy region, demonstrate that President Putin is not ready to lay down his arms. “Such steps don’t mean peace,” Zelenskyy concluded.

Earlier, the Kremlin expressed cautious optimism about the potential for peace in Ukraine after President Donald Trump’s envoy met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed Putin’s comments, who stated that he theoretically accepted the ceasefire proposed by the United States and Ukraine — but only on terms that would equate to a victory for Russia over Ukraine. It was an emphatic "yes, but." “We agree with the proposals to stop the hostilities,” Putin said in a speech. “But only if it leads to long-term peace and eliminates the root causes of this crisis.” The term "root causes" refers to Russia’s longstanding grievances regarding NATO’s eastward expansion. Western officials and analysts reject this, arguing that Putin's goal is to bring Ukraine under Russia’s influence and prevent its European alignment. 

Despite engaging with the Trump administration, there is little evidence that Putin has moved away from his primary war objectives: securing his territorial gains in Ukraine and ensuring it never joins NATO. Still, Trump called Putin's remark "a promising statement". On March 14, Trump posted on Truth Social, calling his administration’s discussions with Putin "very good and productive," expressing hope "that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end." In an all-caps post, Trump emphasized the dire situation of Ukrainian troops surrounded by Russian forces, describing their position as "very bad and vulnerable." "I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!" he added.

By Naila Huseynova