Moscow has also ousted Ukrainian troops from swathes of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine had led a shock offensive last summer.
Zelenskyy said that by not agreeing to the ceasefire, Putin was also going against Trump – who has made some friendly statements on Russia – and accused Moscow of trying to find ways not to end the war.
“Today Putin is the one who doesn’t agree with what Trump has proposed,” he said.
He said a 30-days ceasefire would allow negotiations on a long-term peace, though he ruled out ceding any territory to Russia.
“The United States raised this issue at a meeting in Jeddah. They got the Ukrainian position,” Zelenskyy said, referring to talks between US and Ukrainian teams in Saudi Arabia.
“Our position is that we do not recognise the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian in any case,” he repeated.
