Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said on Tuesday that he could have peace talks with Ukraine but refused to speak directly with Volodymyr Zelensky, who he called illegitimate.

The Ukrainian leader replied by saying that Putin is “afraid of negotiations” and uses “cynical tactics” to prolong the conflict.

Since assuming office on January 20th, Donald Trump has put pressure both sides to stop fighting. He has threatened tougher sanctions against Russia and claimed that Zelensky was ready to negotiate “a deal”.

Putin stated that if Zelensky wants to be involved in the negotiations he will assign people to do so. He called the Ukrainian leader “illegitimate”, because his term as president expired under martial law.

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He added: “If anyone wants to negotiate, and reach a compromise there, then let them lead the negotiations… We will naturally strive to achieve what we want, what is in our best interests.”

Zelensky claimed that it was possible to achieve a “real peace”, but the Kremlin leader was frustrating attempts to stop the fighting.

Zelensky, writing on X, said that Putin “confirmed today his fear of negotiations and strong leaders. He does everything he can to prolong the conflict.”

Kyiv warned that it should not be excluded from any talks of peace between Russia and the US. It accused Putin of trying to “manipulate Trump”.

“Everything would have been over”

Putin claimed that the fighting could end within two months if the West stopped its support for Kyiv.

If the bullets and money run out, they will cease to exist in one month. Putin told a reporter on state television that everything would be done in about a month, a half and two weeks.

Trump’s promise of a rapid ceasefire after he takes office has not resulted in a de-escalation of the conflict.

The Russian army announced Tuesday that it had taken a village in the northeastern Kharkiv Region of Ukraine. This is the latest territorial victory for Moscow’s troops.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that its forces “liberated” Dvorichna village, which had more than 3,000 residents before the conflict.

The village was captured by Moscow in 2022 at the beginning of its full-scale offensive, but it was quickly retaken months later by Kyiv in a quick counter-offensive.

Ukrainian military bloggers with links to Ukraine’s defence ministry also claimed that Russian forces advanced on the flanks Chasiv Yar. This strategic hilltop city, which was home to 12,000 people prior to the conflict, is a strategic location.

Over the last year, the Ukrainian army has been outgunned by Russian troops on the 1,000-kilometre front line.

The Ukrainian government fired a deputy minister of defence in charge of purchasing weapons on Tuesday after accusing him of “failing” to “ensure the timely supply of ammunition” for soldiers.