**Russia’s Delay on Ceasefire Proposal Sparks Outrage from Ukraine**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russia’s weeklong delay in preparing a proposal on a peace settlement as a “mockery of the whole world”. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to support a full ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
Zelensky said that while Ukraine and its partners are working towards an immediate ceasefire, Russia is stalling. He emphasized that Ukraine needs a ceasefire and diplomatic efforts towards real peace, calling for increased pressure on Russia.
**Russia’s Lack of Urgency Leaves Ukraine Frustrated**
The Kremlin has been accused of dragging its feet on the issue. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was “no timeline” for completing the document, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia would only submit a draft settlement document after the ongoing prisoner exchange is completed.
That prisoner swap, which saw both sides return 1,000 prisoners of war, is the largest such exchange since Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014. However, Zelensky argued that this was just a small step and that Moscow continues to block meaningful progress beyond it.
**Loss of Life Continues as Russia Blocks Progress**
Zelensky’s comments come at a time when Ukraine is facing continued loss of life due to the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that every day in the war results in losses, and while Russia may not count people, the world must hold them accountable.
In response to this situation, Zelensky called for new sanctions against Russia, thanking those who advocate and support such measures.
**Independent Journalism Matters**
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