Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deliberately stalling peace negotiations in order to prolong its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts, with U.S. President Donald Trump re-entering the fray by holding phone calls with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The talks including last week’s Istanbul meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials marked the first direct engagement in over three years. However, the discussions failed to yield any breakthrough. Zelensky dismissed the Russian delegation as unserious, claiming Putin was “buying time” through diplomatic distractions while continuing military offensives.
“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation,” Zelensky said on social media.
Trump, meanwhile, characterized his latest conversation with Putin — the third this year — as a potential turning point. He is seeking to fulfill a campaign promise to end the war swiftly. However, Putin reportedly rejected Trump’s proposal for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. Instead, he offered a vague “memorandum” of understanding, which lacks concrete terms and allows Russia to maintain its offensive.
Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev acknowledged the tactic, noting that the memorandum “buys time for Russia,” since it does not require a cessation of hostilities.
European leaders remain skeptical of Moscow’s intentions. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Putin’s response showed he was not “genuinely interested in peace.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed the sentiment, urging the U.S. to act on threats of further sanctions if Russia continues to stall.
Ukraine and the EU are now pressuring Trump to implement more robust banking and energy sanctions, arguing that such measures could cripple Russia’s war financing.
The EU has already adopted its 17th sanctions package, targeting 200 ships in Russia’s shadow fleet, prompting angry reactions from Moscow. Despite mounting economic pressure, Russia remains defiant, bolstered by strong trade ties with China and India.
With diplomatic uncertainty looming, Zelensky has vowed to continue pushing for meaningful talks but only those that produce results.
