'Very manipulative': Zelenskyy reacts to Putin's remarks on ceasefire proposal
What's the story
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin's response to its ceasefire proposal, calling it "very manipulative."
The comment came during Zelenskyy's nightly address as he highlighted how predictable Putin's comments were about the ceasefire.
In his first public remark on the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States and backed by Ukraine, Putin said he was in favor but rasied "serious questions" about how it would work.
Roadblocks
Putin's concerns over ceasefire implementation
Putin complained that Ukraine could use a ceasefire to make military gains, and how such an agreement could be monitored over a thousands-kilometer-long front line.
Responding, Zelenskyy said, "We do not set conditions that complicate anything. Russia does that."
He also accused Putin of preparing a refusal to the ceasefire proposal, but being too cowardly to say it directly to US President Donald Trump.
Accusations
Zelensky refutes claims of setting conditions
According to Zelenskyy, Putin is framing the ceasefire idea with preconditions meant for maximum delay or total failure.
Zelenskyy said that Putin frequently uses the tactics of not saying 'no,' instead delaying and making normal solutions impossible. This is, according to him, another instance of Russian manipulation.
He added that the US side were "ready to organize control and verification" of the ceasefire.
Verification
Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire
"It is feasible to ensure this with American capabilities, European capabilities. And to prepare answers to all the questions about long-term security and real, reliable peace during the ceasefire and put a plan to end the war on the table," Zelenskyy said.
On March 11, Ukraine accepted the US proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," following a meeting with Kyiv in Saudi Arabai.