Zelensky Remains Skeptical as Cease-Fire Talks with Russia Progress

In the wake of President Trump’s call with President Putin, Ukraine’s Zelensky expresses conditional acceptance of a limited cease-fire offer, highlighting ongoing mistrust.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky communicated his intentions to converse with President Trump later today to “discuss the details of the next steps” following Trump's telephone exchange with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. The Kremlin announced that in the Tuesday conversation, Putin had consented to a limited cease-fire aimed at halting attacks on Ukrainian energy installations. However, this came short of a broader 30-day unconditional cease-fire which Kyiv had previously agreed to, under U.S. influence.

During a news conference in Helsinki alongside Finland's President Alexander Stubb, Zelensky expressed a willingness to consider the proposed limited cease-fire but underscored that any such agreement would necessitate U.S. monitoring to ensure compliance. “If the Russians do not strike our facilities, we will definitely not strike theirs,” he stated.

Tensions, however, remain palpable between the two nations as they exchanged accusations regarding strikes on energy infrastructure. Zelensky has expressed skepticism about the motivations behind some of Putin's cease-fire conditions, particularly a demand for the complete cessation of foreign military aid to Ukraine, reiterating the possibility that this was a strategy to buy time for Russia to consolidate its military position.

Following Trump and Putin's conversation, Zelensky remarked that it was evident Russia had no desire to conclude hostilities, as it continues to impose more conditions on the table. The more substantial 30-day cease-fire, reached after dialogues with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, was initially intended to serve as a stepping stone for comprehensive negotiations towards a long-lasting peace—marking the first significant pause in violence since Russia's extensive invasion more than three years ago.

Anastasia Kuznietsova contributed reporting. Maria Varenikova specializes in covering Ukraine and its tumultuous conflict with Russia.