Zelensky Blasts Russia for Stalling! Trump Ramps Up Pressure to Force Ukraine Ceasefire!

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “trying to buy time” to prolong its war in Ukraine, casting doubt over recent claims by former US President Donald Trump that progress toward a ceasefire had been made during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement posted on social media Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine remains open to negotiations but warned that if Moscow continues to present “unrealistic conditions” and undermines efforts toward peace, there must be “tough consequences.” The comments came a day after Trump announced that truce talks between Russia and Ukraine would begin “immediately,” following his separate calls with both leaders.

While Putin signaled willingness to work on a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” he did not respond to calls for a 30-day pause in fighting. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said it was Kyiv’s responsibility to respond to the proposal. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the significance of the talks, insisting “there are no deadlines and there cannot be any.”

Zelensky, meanwhile, launched a new diplomatic offensive, speaking to Western allies in a bid to maintain pressure on Moscow. After a phone call with the Finnish president, he reiterated Ukraine’s goal of forcing a shift in Russian behavior through sustained international support.

As part of renewed pressure on Moscow, the European Union and the United Kingdom unveiled fresh sanctions packages. The EU blacklisted nearly 200 Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers and warned of a “tougher response” if Moscow refused to accept a truce. The UK also sanctioned 18 Russian tankers and expanded restrictions targeting military suppliers, energy exports, and financial institutions.

The sanctions follow a massive Russian drone assault over the weekend—described by Kyiv officials as the largest since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian military officials reported 177 combat clashes and more than 1,000 Russian casualties in a single day.

Despite mounting international efforts, Trump expressed skepticism toward further sanctions. He warned they could derail fragile diplomatic momentum, distancing himself from new punitive measures adopted by allies.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking ahead of a meeting of EU ministers, voiced doubt about Moscow’s intentions. “Putin is clearly playing for time,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have to say he is not really interested in peace.”

Putin has so far rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and last week declined Zelensky’s invitation to meet for talks in Istanbul. Trump had offered to attend the meeting if Putin joined, but the Russian leader declined.

The Kremlin previously announced a unilateral ceasefire from May 8–11 to mark Russia’s WWII victory commemorations, but Ukraine refused to participate, citing a lack of trust. A similar truce during Easter in April lasted just 30 hours, with both sides accusing each other of violations.