Prospect of Ukraine ceasefire still uncertain despite Trump's optimism

Trump wants a fast end to the fighting, but Putin wants a "painstaking" discussion about details.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersProspect of Ukraine ceasefire still uncertain despite Trump's optimism18 hours agoShareSaveJames LandaleDiplomatic correspondent•@BBCJLandaleReporting from Kyiv, UkraineShareSaveGetty ImagesUkrainian soldiers on the battlefield say they don't expect to see the war end any time soonUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of trying to "sabotage" diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire.

In a post on social media, he urged the US to put more pressure on the Russian president, saying only the "strength of America" could end the war.

The Ukrainian leader said Putin was "doing everything he can to sabotage diplomacy by setting extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the start even before a ceasefire".

At his press conference on Thursday, Putin said he accepted the idea of a ceasefire but qualified that with numerous questions about detail.

He raised the Kursk border region, where Russian forces are retaking territory occupied by Ukraine six months ago. He accused Ukrainian forces of "heinous crimes against civilians" – something Kyiv denies - and asked whether they should walk free or surrender.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2z1459lzo

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