Asger Risom
Ukraine’s president stands firm after Trump and Putin discuss ceasefire terms without concrete agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back firmly on Monday night against Vladimir Putin’s renewed calls for Ukraine to retreat from territories currently under partial Russian occupation.
His comments followed a phone conversation between the Russian president and U.S. President Donald Trump — a call that once again failed to produce a ceasefire deal.
The interaction underscored a growing gap between diplomatic messaging and battlefield realities, with Moscow holding firm to its demands and Kyiv refusing to budge.
Moscow Still Sets Red Lines
Putin reiterated to Trump that any future peace treaty would need to address what he called the “root causes” of the war — a phrase Russian officials have consistently used to justify their invasion of Ukraine.
According to Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, the two leaders spoke for over two hours. However, no timeline or conditions for a ceasefire were disclosed.
Despite this, Trump posted on Truth Social that peace talks would “immediately begin,” framing the discussion as a breakthrough.
He claimed the “terms of this will be negotiated between the two sides,” highlighting that only the parties involved can determine the outcome.
Trump took office 118 days ago, having campaigned on a pledge to end the war in Ukraine within 100 days.
Zelensky: No Concessions
Zelensky made it clear he would not accept terms that include ceding Ukrainian territory.
“It is our territory, we will not withdraw our troops from our territory (…) It means they do not want peace… if they demand what they know we will not accept.”
Zelensky spoke during a press briefing from Kyiv, emphasizing that Russia’s position remains unchanged and incompatible with Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As reported by HotNews.ro, the lack of progress signals that while international dialogue continues, a meaningful ceasefire still appears out of reach.