Putin announces ceasefire amid war; Ukraine President Zelenskyy gives strong statement

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Amid the ongoing war with Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has announced a ceasefire. However, the ceasefire is limited to only 32 hours. During this period, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized Russia.

Zelenskyy said that Putin understands he cannot fully capture Ukraine. He added that Russia sometimes sends messages to international partners that do not reflect its real intentions. According to him, Russia is facing heavy losses and lacks enough trained personnel on the battlefield. He stated that Russia is trying to find a solution that appears like a victory, including efforts through diplomacy and talks with the United States to push Ukraine out of Donbas.

In a post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy questioned why Russia blocked Telegram. He said this could be done to push unpopular decisions forward, either to end the war in some way or to escalate it further. He warned that escalation could lead to more people from major cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg being sent to the frontlines, resulting in casualties returning to these cities.

Zelenskyy further said that Russia is uncertain about how society will react to such decisions. He noted that a section of society, which he estimated at around 20–25 percent, has been influenced by propaganda and is not ready to end the war. At the same time, another section may react negatively if the conflict intensifies.

Speaking about the possibility of escalating the war, Zelenskyy said that if Russia chooses this path, a trilateral meeting could take place between April and June. He added that these months are crucial and that by September the situation could become very difficult. He also mentioned that the United States may not allow indefinite delays in negotiations.

On Ukraine’s NATO membership, Zelenskyy said that giving up nuclear weapons should have brought fair compensation. He stated that NATO membership was the least Ukraine expected in return, but it received nothing, calling it a major mistake.