Putin wants Ukraine to miss ballistic missiles, says Zelenskyy after Kremlin issues demands on intelligence halt for Kyiv

 

Following a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark warning about Russia’s proposed 30-day ceasefire. He cautioned that the move was a strategic ploy designed to weaken Ukraine’s defenses while allowing Russia to maintain its capability for precise, deadly strikes. According to UNIAN, Zelenskyy believes that Putin’s demands, which include halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, are intended to prolong the war and inflict further harm on Ukrainian civilians.

On March 18, after Putin’s discussion with Trump, the Kremlin released a statement outlining the terms of the proposed ceasefire. The Russian leader called for Ukraine to stop its mobilization efforts and suspend the rearmament of its armed forces. The following day, at a press conference, Zelenskyy was asked whether the U.S. might concede to Putin’s demand to end military support and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

“No one can dictate U.S. aid policies to Ukraine or any other country. That decision rests solely with President Trump,” Zelenskyy stated.

He stressed that Russia’s objective is to weaken Ukraine by exerting pressure on its allies to withdraw support.

“The request is bizarre. If Putin truly desires peace and no longer wishes to fight, then why is he so afraid of the Ukrainian army? Why is he working so hard to undermine our military capabilities and the security of our people?” Zelenskyy questioned.

Highlighting the indispensable role of U.S. intelligence, the Ukrainian president warned that without it, Ukraine would struggle to detect and respond to Russian ballistic missile launches in time.

“If Putin doesn’t intend to kill us, then why is he demanding that we lose access to intelligence? His aim is clear—he wants to ensure that we remain unaware of incoming ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. He wants to prevent our people from reaching shelters in time. This is not a step toward peace but a continuation of war,” Zelenskyy asserted.

Concluding his remarks, the Ukrainian leader urged his country’s allies to increase military aid rather than scale it back. He argued that a stronger show of support would send a clear message of preparedness for any further Russian escalation.