Zelensky wrote in his social media accounts that any steps toward de-escalation must be mutual and backed by real guarantees.
He said the real cause of the war in Europe is Russia, and Russia alone. Strikes on the energy sector could be stopped today, he added, but Vladimir Putin does not want that.
Zelensky has not yet commented on Donald Trump's statements about the need for a new leader in Ukraine. He has said previously that elections are impossible under wartime conditions and could be held only after a ceasefire.
The US president sharply criticized Zelensky a day earlier, saying he was not doing enough to end the war. Trump's particular outrage was provoked by strikes on Russian refineries. According to him, the United States had warned Zelensky that he could do anything but must not hit diesel fuel, as this creates a serious shortage and a global problem. Trump also said he believed Putin wants the war to end, and that Ukraine needs a new leader who can make a deal.
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to the Russian president, told VGTRK correspondent Pavel Zarubin that Zelensky is in hysterics. According to Peskov, the Ukrainian president is demanding a more aggressive attitude toward Russia, including access to Starlink for strikes on targets deep inside the country, money for air defense and long-range weapons. Peskov added that this is not how one behaves with Russia.
Trump's words were backed by businessman Elon Musk, who wrote that Zelensky had gone too far and agreed that Ukraine needs a new leader.
The new conflict between Trump and Zelensky flared after Trump announced agreements with Putin on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to American and global markets. In Kyiv, outrage was caused by the fact that these agreements were not accompanied by any concessions from Russia. At the same time, Ukraine emphasizes that it agrees to a so-called energy truce, under which both sides would stop strikes on energy facilities.