Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday accused Russia of blocking peace talks by refusing to accept a ceasefire. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “complicating the situation” more than three years into the war.

Zelensky wrote on X, “We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation.”

Thank you for the support! All the points mentioned are important to achieve a truly sustainable and reliable peace. We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. If they lack… pic.twitter.com/bkTXwjMSnX

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 16, 2025

Zelensky Slams Moscow’s Attitude

He strongly criticized Moscow for showing no willingness to stop attacks. “It may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater — peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades,” he said. He also emphasized that “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.”

Nordic-Baltic Leaders Reaffirm Support

Zelensky’s remarks came as eight Nordic-Baltic nations—Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden—issued a joint statement backing Ukraine. They also endorsed US President Donald Trump’s mediation role.

The statement read: “We welcome President Trump’s statement that the U.S. is prepared to participate in security guarantees. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries.”

Zelensky Prepares for Washington Visit

Zelensky confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday, August 18. He described the visit as an important chance to discuss “all the details and determine which steps are necessary and will work.”

The announcement came just after Trump held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, August 15. The meeting lasted three hours but failed to deliver a ceasefire.

At a press conference after the talks, Trump said, “No deal until there’s a deal.”

Alaska Summit Ends Without Breakthrough

Although the Alaska summit did not lead to an agreement, both Trump and Putin called their discussions “very productive.” However, their joint press conference ended without taking any questions from reporters, leaving uncertainty over the next steps.