As Zelenskyy Rejects Russian Ceasefire Response, Putin Conveys 'Signals' to Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin has conveyed messages to former U.S. President Donald Trump through U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin met Witkoff in Moscow, where "additional information and signals" were passed to Trump. The timing of a direct conversation between Putin and Trump will be determined after Witkoff delivers his report. "There is an understanding on both sides that such a conversation is necessary," Peskov stated.

The diplomatic exchanges come amid ongoing ceasefire discussions, with Trump saying U.S.-Russia talks in Moscow were "good and productive."

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russia’s response, accusing Moscow of delaying the process to ensure the war continues. Zelenskyy claimed that Ukraine had already accepted an unconditional ceasefire, with U.S. backing for monitoring mechanisms. He argued that Russia is deliberately setting preconditions to stall progress.

“Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war and keep killing Ukrainians…That's why, in Moscow, they are surrounding the ceasefire idea with such preconditions that it either fails or gets dragged out for as long as possible,” Zelenskyy said. "Putin does this often – he doesn't say 'no' outright, but he drags things out and makes reasonable solutions impossible. We see this as yet another round of Russian manipulation."

Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly requested that U.S. Envoy Keith Kellogg be excluded from high-level negotiations. Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, has criticized Moscow’s actions and was absent from recent diplomatic meetings, though the U.S. has not officially removed him from talks.

Putin has said he agrees with a proposed 30-day ceasefire but insisted that further discussions are necessary to ensure "long-term peace." Trump has welcomed Putin’s statement as "promising" but "not complete," indicating he is open to further talks.

The situation remains fluid, with the U.S. and Ukraine working to restore military aid and intelligence-sharing following recent tensions between Zelensky and Trump. The outcome of ongoing negotiations could shape the future of the three-year-long war, which has resulted in massive casualties and displacement.