LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of intentionally prolonging the war, undermining diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the United States to negotiate a ceasefire. With the war now in its third year, fierce battles continue across multiple fronts, and both Kyiv and Moscow are maneuvering to gain leverage in peace negotiations, particularly as former U.S. President Donald Trump increases pressure to reach an agreement.
Zelenskyy warned on Saturday that Russia has been amassing troops along Ukraine’s eastern Sumy region, indicating that Moscow is preparing for a new offensive. “This indicates an intention to attack,” he stated. “We are aware of this, and we will counter it. I want all our partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he is willing to ignore.”
With both sides locked in an ongoing war of words, Zelenskyy has framed Putin as the main obstacle to peace, accusing Moscow of deliberately stalling negotiations while continuing its military buildup. “The Russian military buildup proves that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy,” he wrote on social media. “It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war. We are ready to provide our partners with all the real information on the situation at the front, in the Kursk region, and along our border.”
Meanwhile, military operations continue to escalate. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 90 attack drones into Ukrainian territory on Saturday night, targeting major cities including Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa. Of these, 47 drones were intercepted, while 33 failed mid-flight, according to Ukrainian defense officials. In response, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Russian forces shot down 31 Ukrainian drones over four regions inside Russia.
As the battlefield remains active, diplomacy has struggled to gain traction. Last week, Ukrainian and U.S. officials agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, but Moscow has yet to fully commit. Putin initially expressed support for the agreement but imposed additional conditions, delaying its implementation.
In Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces made surprising territorial gains during an August 2024 offensive, the situation remains volatile. Moscow has vowed to recapture lost ground and has conditioned peace talks on regaining full control over Kursk. This standoff has heightened tensions, with Trump recently warning of a “horrible massacre” in the region. He claimed to have personally urged Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers still engaged in combat there.
Zelenskyy and his administration have pushed back against any suggestions that Ukrainian forces are on the brink of collapse in the region. “Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean military units in the Kursk region,” he posted on social media. “There is no encirclement of our troops.”
Trump’s administration has been actively involved in peace negotiations, sending Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow last week for direct talks with Putin. Following these discussions, Trump expressed optimism about a resolution, calling the negotiations “very good and productive”. “There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,” he told reporters.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also been involved in diplomatic efforts, speaking on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss next steps. According to a State Department statement, the conversation focused on restoring U.S.-Russia communication and furthering diplomatic progress.
Despite these discussions, Russia’s true intentions remain unclear. The Kremlin has long held maximalist objectives in the war, making a full withdrawal from Ukrainian territory highly unlikely. To pressure Moscow into serious negotiations, Trump has threatened new sanctions and economic tariffs, should Putin fail to demonstrate a willingness to engage in a legitimate peace process.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to Putin, reinforced Moscow’s skepticism toward a ceasefire in a televised interview on Sunday. He suggested that the 30-day ceasefire proposal was merely a strategy to allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm. “Russian troops are advancing on all fronts,” Ushakov said. “In this situation, the ceasefire proposal looks like an attempt to buy time for Ukrainian forces to reorganize.” His comments were reportedly made on Thursday, coinciding with Witkoff’s visit to Moscow.
Amid these developments, Ukraine has been working to restore its strained relationship with Washington, following a brief period in which the U.S. temporarily froze military aid and intelligence sharing. Zelenskyy has consistently pressed for stronger security guarantees from the U.S., but the Trump administration has not yet committed to long-term military assistance.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly argued that Western security assurances must include direct military presence in Ukraine, stating that this is the only way to ensure long-term peace. “Peace will be more reliable with the presence of European contingents on the ground, supported by the American side,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. However, the Kremlin has outright rejected this suggestion, labeling it as a dangerous escalation.
The Ukrainian president has urged Western leaders not to allow Russia to dictate security arrangements, particularly regarding the deployment of foreign forces in Ukraine. “It is also a very bad signal to listen to the opinion of the Russians regarding the contingent,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The contingent should be stationed on Ukrainian soil. This is a guarantee of security for Ukraine and for Europe.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine must make its own security decisions without Russian interference. “If Putin wants to introduce some foreign contingent into the territory of Russia, that is his business,” he added. “But it is not his business to decide something about the security of Ukraine and Europe.”
As war rages on and diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, global leaders continue to weigh potential next steps. With Russia mobilizing more troops and Ukraine refusing to back down, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether diplomacy can gain traction or whether the war will continue into another year of devastation. For now, the battle for control over key territories will likely shape the next phase of this conflict.
