Zelensky says Putin ‘sabotaging diplomacy’ over ceasefire conditions

KYIV, Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Vladimir Putin on Friday of sabotaging diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, over the Russian leader´s response to a US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

“He is now doing everything he can to sabotage diplomacy by setting extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the start even before a ceasefire,” Zelensky said in a post on X.

Washington and Kyiv have been pushing for an immediate 30-day truce, but Putin has expressed doubt over the plan, saying important questions remain. Zelensky said the United States could exert sufficient pressure on Russia to stop its invasion because, he said, Putin “will not end the war on his own”. “The strength of America is enough to make it happen. Strong steps are needed. Strong pressure must be applied to the only one who wants to continue this war,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media.

Kyiv has throughout the war relied on support from Washington, which has been its most important military and political ally. Trump however initiated a reversal in US policy by reaching out to Russia and temporarily halting military assistance to Ukraine, even clashing with Zelensky at the White House.

Zelensky, who has praised the talks in Jeddah, said it was important to “preserve dialogue” between the United States and Ukraine. “Close relations with the United States are very important for Ukraine. I represent Ukraine as its president. America is represented by Donald Trump, as the duly elected president. We need normal, functional relations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Group of Seven powers on Friday warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire with Ukraine, in a forceful show of unity after President Donald Trump rattled the club of democracies.

Meeting at a rustic hotel in rural Quebec, G7 foreign ministers also backed Ukraine´s fight for its “territorial integrity” and spoke of Russia´s “aggression,” terminology earlier eschewed by Trump as he reached out to Moscow.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia´s de facto ruler told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the kingdom supports “all initiatives” to end the Ukraine war, a statement said on Friday, after US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah proposed a 30-day ceasefire.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia´s “commitment to facilitating dialogue and supporting all initiatives aimed at achieving a political resolution” in a phone call with Putin, a foreign ministry statement said.

On Thursday Putin said he had “serious questions” about the ceasefire plan, which was announced after talks in the western Saudi city on Tuesday. Washington also agreed to resume military intelligence and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which it shut off after President Volodymyr Zelensky´s White House row with President Donald Trump.