United News of Bangladesh

Ukraine has voiced growing frustration over US-backed peace efforts with Russia, saying Washington is putting heavy pressure on Kyiv while failing to apply the same level of pressure on Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the latest round of talks had not delivered acceptable results for Ukraine. In a video address to the nation on Wednesday, he said the outcome so far was insufficient. Ahead of talks held in Geneva this week, Zelenskyy rejected Russian demands that Ukraine hand over the remaining parts of the eastern Donetsk region not under Russian control. He said Ukrainians would never accept giving up more land, warning that such a move would not be forgiven by the public. Russia currently controls about 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, down from around 26 percent in early 2022, according to estimates. Recent opinion polls show a majority of Ukrainians strongly oppose ceding Donetsk to Russia, even in exchange for security guarantees. Many also doubt the current US-led negotiations will bring lasting peace. Zelenskyy has instead suggested freezing the current front line as a basis for a ceasefire, followed by negotiations. He said such an approach could gain public support if put to a referendum. US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine is holding up a peace deal, a claim Zelenskyy called unfair. He said he hoped the US stance was part of negotiating tactics rather than a fixed position. Several US senators visiting Ukraine recently said Washington should increase pressure on Russia. They argued that Moscow is not negotiating in good faith and continues to use force during talks. On the same day as the Geneva discussions, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials said the strikes damaged power and heating supplies and showed Russia’s lack of interest in peace. Zelenskyy again urged Western allies to tighten sanctions on Russian energy exports and stop the flow of critical components to Russia through third countries. Ukraine says Russia continues to rely on a large shadow fleet of oil tankers to bypass sanctions. Despite ongoing fighting, Ukrainian officials say their forces have made recent gains in eastern and central regions. Military observers report that Ukrainian troops reclaimed territory in mid-February, marking one of their fastest advances since 2023. European allies have pledged increased military and financial support to Ukraine this year, including funding for drone production and weapons supplies. The European Union has also approved new financial assistance packages. The United States, however, has halted direct military and financial aid to Ukraine since President Trump took office in January 2025, increasing concerns in Kyiv about the balance of pressure in the peace process.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA