Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of prolonging the war despite diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy said that after discussions in Jeddah and a ceasefire proposal from the United States, Russia had “stole almost another week – a week of war that only Russia wants.”
He also alleged that the country will do everything to further intensify diplomacy and make it effective. “But every day now is about defending our independence, our state, and our people.”
Then, reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to its defence, he said, “we must remember – it is the support of our army, all our defense and security forces, and our state that determines everything.”
He also announced a restructuring of the country’s armed forces alongside commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and defence minister Rustem Umerov, appointing Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the general staff.
The Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude to everyone who acknowledges the significance of Ukraine’s ‘defence and resilience’, including soldiers, civilians, and those organising fundraisers to support the country’s armed forces. “We must remember – as long as the occupier is on our land, and as long as air raid sirens sound, we must defend Ukraine,” he added.
Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid growing tensions over the proposed ceasefire. Earlier, he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance, calling it “highly manipulative,” alleging that Putin did not genuinely seek a ceasefire but is hesitant to admit this to US President Donald Trump.
The US administration had urged Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire to which Putin responded by citing various concerns including fears that Ukraine could gain a military advantage. He also pointed to Russia’s recent battlefield gains as a reason for continuing military operations.
Despite the diplomatic push, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine’s position remains clear while Russia continues to complicate matters. “We do not set conditions that complicate anything. Russia does that,” he said.
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