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The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Vladimir Putin of trying to “sabotage” diplomatic efforts to ensure a high immediate fire.
In a publication on social networks, he urged the United States to press the Russian president, saying that only the “force of America” could end the war.
The Ukrainian leader said that Putin was “doing everything possible to sabotage diplomacy by establishing extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions from the beginning even before a high fire.”
At his press conference on Thursday, Putin said he accepted the idea of a high fire But he described that with numerous questions about details.
He raised the border region of Kursk, where the Russian forces are resume territory occupied by Ukraine six months ago. He accused the Ukrainian forces of “atrocious crimes against civilians”, something that kyiv denies, and asked if they should walk freely or surrender.
He asked if Ukraine would use a stop the fire to mobilize, shaken and replenish his troops, without suggesting that his forces could do the same.
And Putin raised numerous questions about how a fire could be monitored and monitored along the frontline line in the east. “Who can determine who violated the possible high fire agreement at a distance of 2,000 km and where exactly?” asked. “Who will be responsible for violating the high fire?”
In a meeting with journalists on Friday, Zelensky addressed these problems directly, especially questions about verification. He said that Ukraine was more than capable of verifying a high fire in the air and the sea. But he said that the surveillance and intelligence capabilities of US and European aircraft and satellites would be needed to monitor the front line.
Ukraine believes that Putin’s detail conditions can be addressed. Much more difficult to handle are the objections of Putin principle. He said that any agreement should “proceed from the assumption that this cessation should lead to long -term peace and eliminate the root causes of this crisis.” With that, it refers to its objections to the expansion of the NATO military alliance and the very existence of Ukraine as a sovereign independent state.
There are very few possibilities that this is addressed in any high immediate interim fire. Not for nothing, the meeting of Ministers of Foreigners of the G7 in Canada emphasized the territorial integrity of Ukraine “and its right to exist and their freedom, sovereignty and independence.”
That is why Zelensky said “Russia is the only part that wants war to continue and diplomacy breaks.”
So what could happen now? Well, the ball is on the United States court. President Trump could choose to increase the pressure on Russia as Ukraine demands. It could impose more sanctions on Russia, and countries that buy their cheap oil and gas. It could also provide more military support and intelligence to Ukraine. Or alternately, Trump could offer Russia more concessions to reach an agreement on the line, a possibility that worries about some here in kyiv. Much of the contact between the United States and Russia has remained secret compared to the very public diplomatic pressure imposed on Ukraine.
That is why Zelensky is calling Russia’s delay tactics and urging the West to exert more pressure on Putin. You can also enjoy seeing Russia in the center of attention, after being the butt of US diplomatic efforts for more than a month since Trump and Putin had their first phone call.
The conclusion is that Trump has promoted a diplomatic excavator through many international issues since its inauguration, including war in Ukraine.
But now he has faced the Kremlin walls and can be more difficult to overcome.
Trump wants a quick end for the fight. Putin wants a “thorough” discussion about details and principles. Two incompatible imperatives held by two third leaders used to get their way. Who will flicker first? The perspectives of a high fire are not safe, for all US expressions of “cautious optimism.”
