The Ukrainian president has claimed Vladimir Putin is planning to refuse a 30-day ceasefire deal – but that he is ‘too afraid’ to tell Donald Trump.

Earlier today the Russian president hinted that he supports the ceasefire proposal, albeit with a big caveat.

Russia’s president and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko delivered a joint news conference this afternoon as they meet in Moscow – about the two countries’ ‘friendship’, about ‘hostile and destabilising’ Nato, and the war in Ukraine.

But since then Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed on his Telegram channel that Putin is in fact planning to refuse the ceasefire deal.

He said: ‘We have all heard from Russia very predictable, very manipulative words from Putin in response to the idea of silence on the front – he is actually preparing a refusal as of now.

‘Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, wants to kill Ukrainians.

‘Putin often does this – he does not say “no” directly, but does so in a way that practically only delays everything and makes normal decisions impossible. We believe that all this is now – another Russian manipulation.’

Ukraine accepted the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire earlier this week, with Mr Zelensky adding that Ukraine is ‘ready to work as quickly as possible, as constructively as possible’.

He added in his Telegram post: ‘We do not set conditions that complicate anything. Russia is doing this.

‘As we have always said, the only one who will delay everything, the only one who will be unconstructive is Russia. They need war.

‘Putin stole years of peace and continues this war – day after day. Now we need to put pressure on him.

‘We need to impose sanctions that will help. We will continue to work with our American partners, with our European partners, with everyone in the world who wants peace, to force Russia to end the war.’

Earlier today, Putin appeared to agree with US proposals to stop fighting, but said he needs to speak with Donald Trump first.

‘We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,’ the leader told reporters.

‘But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis.’

He added later: ‘The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But there are issues that we need to discuss.

‘And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well. Maybe I should call president Trump and have a discussion with him. We support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means.’

But Russia and the US have yet to agree on a possible phone call between the two leaders, a Kremlin aide said.

One of the announcements, made during the conference also focused on ‘amendments’ on the equal rights of citizens of Russia and Belarus.

This allowed Russian and Belarusian citizens stand in local elections in both countries – a likely test run for deeper political integration.

‘Citizens of Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in local elections in both countries,’ Putin told reporters.

This is yet another sign of Putin’s persisting takeover of the neighbouring nation.

Lukashenko and Putin announced ‘the mutual security treaty between Russia and Belarus entered into force today’ and jointly accused Nato of ‘destabilising’ and ‘hostile’ actions in Ukraine.

Putin said he has discussed with Lukashenko ‘a number of questions on creating a common defence area’ and says Russian military is placed in Belarus.

He stressed: ‘We have tactical nuclear weapons and defence systems protecting security, protecting the western border of our states.’

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