Zelenskyy Criticizes U.S. Ceasefire Push: “Appeasing Putin Is Not Victory”

The United States is now seeking to appease Russian leader Vladimir Putin in pursuit of a quick resolution, but a ceasefire is not a victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with ARD released on February 18.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not legally renounce its territories or sign any agreements “merely for the sake of applause.”

“The problem is that the U.S. is now saying things that Putin likes to hear. I believe that’s the point, they want to appease him. And why? To meet face-to-face and claim a quick success. But what they’re aiming for, a mere ceasefire, is not a success,” the President added.

During the same interview, Zelenskyy condemned negotiation tactics that compromise key demands, citing U.S. government statements implying that Ukraine will not become a NATO member.

Additionally, the Ukrainian President responded to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s remark that returning to Ukraine’s 2014 borders is an “unrealistic objective.”

On February 18, U.S. intelligence sources cited by NBC stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not genuinely interested in peace negotiations with Ukraine but instead sees them as a tactical maneuver to further his military objectives.