U.S. President Donald Trump has described his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Ukraine as “good and productive.”
The talks followed a meeting in Moscow between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday evening. Afterward, the Kremlin stated that it shared the United States’ “cautious optimism” about the potential for a peace process.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed hope that these negotiations could bring an end to the “horrible, bloody war.” However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of deliberately prolonging the talks to continue the conflict. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that Putin should not be allowed to “play games” with ceasefire proposals.
Earlier this week, Ukraine accepted the ceasefire deal proposed by the U.S., but Russia has yet to give its approval. On Thursday, Putin acknowledged that a ceasefire was the right step but insisted on certain “nuances,” laying out tough conditions for peace—an approach Zelensky dismissed as “manipulative.”
On Friday, Zelensky continued his criticism, stating on social media that Putin had no intention of ending the war. He accused the Russian leader of setting “impossible and unacceptable conditions” as a tactic to sabotage diplomacy before a ceasefire could even begin. He warned that Putin would prolong discussions indefinitely while continuing military operations.
Sir Keir echoed these concerns, saying Russia’s dismissive attitude toward Trump’s ceasefire proposal showed a lack of commitment to peace. He emphasized the need for strict monitoring of any potential truce and suggested increasing economic pressure on Russia if negotiations failed.
On Saturday, Sir Keir plans to hold a virtual meeting with up to 25 world leaders to advance the peacekeeping initiative discussed at a recent London summit. He referred to this effort as a “coalition of the willing” aimed at preventing further Russian aggression should a ceasefire be implemented.
Zelensky called on nations with influence over Russia—particularly the United States—to take decisive action, arguing that Putin would not willingly end the war. He accused the Russian president of misleading the world about battlefield conditions, military casualties, and the state of Russia’s economy in an attempt to derail diplomatic efforts.
Despite these concerns, the White House remains optimistic, stating that the two sides have never been this close to a peace agreement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Thursday’s meeting between Putin and Witkoff was “productive,” adding that Trump has been pressuring Russia to “do the right thing.”
Trump also urged Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops, whom he claimed were surrounded by Russian forces, warning of a potential “horrible massacre” comparable to World War II.
Putin, however, insisted that Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region were “isolated” and attempting to retreat as Russia intensified efforts to regain control of the area, which Ukraine had invaded last year.
Ukraine’s military leadership denied reports of encirclement, calling them “false and fabricated.” In a statement, it clarified that Ukrainian forces had successfully repositioned to stronger defensive positions, ensuring there was “no threat of encirclement.”
In response to Trump’s plea, Putin said any Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in Kursk would be treated with “dignity” according to international law and Russian regulations.
Meanwhile, G7 leaders gathered in Quebec, where Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that all member nations supported the U.S.-proposed ceasefire and were closely monitoring Russia’s response. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy reinforced this position, insisting that any ceasefire must be unconditional.
Following the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that American foreign policy would not be dictated by social media statements or press conferences, reiterating that diplomacy was the only viable path to ending the war.
