Zelenskyy urges Trump to use ‘strength of America’ to force Moscow into ceasefire after US-Russia talks

 

Zelenskyy Urges U.S. to Pressure Putin, Warns Russia is Sabotaging Ceasefire Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased pressure on Russia following U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that discussions between Witkoff and Vladimir Putin were “productive.” Zelenskyy stressed that Putin will not end the war on his own and urged the U.S. to leverage its strength to force Russia into a ceasefire.

“We must not let the war drag on,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that only strong pressure on Putin can bring the conflict to an end. He highlighted Ukraine’s swift agreement to the U.S.-proposed ceasefire, contrasting it with Putin’s evasive and non-committal responses.

Putin ‘Sabotaging’ Diplomacy

Zelenskyy accused Putin of deliberately setting impossible conditions to stall negotiations, saying, “He is doing everything possible to sabotage diplomacy.” He criticized Putin for lying about the battlefield situation, casualties, and Russia’s struggling economy, which he described as damaged by “foolish imperial ambitions.”

“Putin will try to drag everyone into endless discussions, just like he did with ‘Minsk’—wasting days, weeks, and months while his guns continue to kill people,” Zelenskyy warned.

Appeal to the U.S.: ‘Peace Through Strength’

Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to President Trump and the U.S. administration, stating that America has the power to push Russia toward ending the war.

“Putin will not stop on his own. But the strength of America is enough to make it happen,” he said, calling for “decisive action” to enforce a ceasefire.

He praised U.S. mediation efforts, including a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia, and reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to act swiftly. “We do not want to play games with war. Every day of delay means more Ukrainian lives lost,” he said.

Ukraine’s Commitment to Peace

Marking Military Volunteer Day, Zelenskyy honored those who have defended Ukraine’s sovereignty over the past decade. He reiterated Ukraine’s desire for peace, stating, “From the very first minutes of this war, we wanted only one thing—for Russia to leave our people in peace.”

With strong security commitments from European allies and continued U.S. engagement, Zelenskyy expressed optimism that a ceasefire could be the first step toward a lasting peace. However, he insisted that sustained international pressure is necessary to ensure Russia does not continue its strategy of delaying and prolonging the war.

“This is what ‘peace through strength’ means,” Zelenskyy concluded, thanking all partners working to bring an end to the conflict.