US President Donald Trump has described discussions between the US and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine as “good and productive.”

This follows a meeting in Moscow between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin on Thursday. Afterward, the Kremlin expressed “cautious optimism” about the peace process. 

Trump stated on Truth Social that there was now “a real chance” to end the devastating conflict.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of prolonging negotiations to continue military operations, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned against allowing Russia to “play games” with ceasefire talks.

Ukraine recently accepted a US-backed ceasefire proposal, but Russia has yet to formally agree. While Putin acknowledged the idea of a ceasefire as “reasonable,” he outlined several strict conditions that Zelensky dismissed as manipulative.

Zelensky criticized Putin on social media, arguing that the Russian leader was deliberately setting impossible conditions to stall diplomacy. He accused Russia of dragging talks on for months while continuing military aggression.

Sir Keir echoed this sentiment, saying Putin’s resistance to Trump’s ceasefire plan showed he was not genuinely committed to peace. He stressed the need for international pressure, stating, “If Russia refuses to engage, we must intensify economic measures to bring an end to the war.”

World leaders continue diplomatic efforts to enforce peace. Sir Keir is set to host a virtual summit with 25 global leaders to discuss a peacekeeping strategy. The “coalition of the willing” aims to prevent further Russian aggression if the ceasefire moves forward.

Meanwhile, Trump urged Putin to spare Ukrainian troops allegedly surrounded by Russian forces, warning of a potential “massacre.” The White House maintained that the Moscow discussions were constructive, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserting that the parties were “closer to peace than ever before.”

G7 leaders, meeting in Quebec, also expressed support for the ceasefire, with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly emphasizing that the next move now rests with Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced that negotiations remain the only viable path to ending the war.

Source: BBC
 
BDST: 1230 HRS, MAR 15, 2025
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