Kyiv, August 17 (HS): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of obstructing peace efforts by rejecting calls for a ceasefire, warning that Russia “has not yet decided when it will stop the killing.”
The statement comes just hours before Zelensky’s scheduled arrival in Washington, where US President Donald Trump is set to press the Ukrainian leader to agree to a permanent peace settlement — bypassing the ceasefire Kyiv has demanded as a first step.
In a major policy shift after his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said on Truth Social that “moving directly to a final peace agreement” would be the best path forward, arguing ceasefires often collapse. He notably signaled US willingness to offer Ukraine credible security guarantees, a key condition long sought by Zelensky.
Reports suggest Putin proposed a deal requiring Kyiv to withdraw from Donetsk in exchange for Russia freezing front lines elsewhere. While Trump relayed the outlines of the offer to Zelensky, Ukraine has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory, warning that doing so would invite future Russian aggression.
The evolving US stance has stirred unease among European allies, with leaders stressing that “international borders must not be changed by force” and that any settlement must come with Zelensky’s full consent. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz nonetheless called US security pledges for Ukraine “significant progress.”
For many in Kyiv, however, the optics of Trump’s summit with Putin were troubling. Ukrainian veterans described feeling “crushed” by the red-carpet welcome given to Moscow’s leader, underscoring the deep mistrust of Russia’s intentions.
Zelensky’s meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday is set to be decisive — potentially shaping whether the war grinds on, or moves toward a fragile and contested peace.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
