Putin unleashes wrath on Zelensky’s hometown after Ukraine accepts 30-day ceasefire

Vladimir Putin unleashed his wrath on Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown hours after Ukraine’s president agreed to a ceasefire that would pause all attacks in the sky and at sea for 30 days.

Russian Iskander-M missiles struck the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing a 47-year-old woman and wounding at least five other people.

The cities of Dnipro and Odesa were also hit by missiles, with a number of homes damaged and at least one person injured.

It came just hours after Zelensky said he is willing to accept a proposal for a ceasefire – but said the US ‘must convince’ Russia to agree to it as well.

He made the statement after a meeting between senior US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier on Tuesday.

Ukraine has been seeking peace ‘from the very first second of this war’ and hopes to achieve it in a reliable way ‘so that war does not return’, Zelensky said.

Response from Russia on the proposal has been scarce – and has so far only come in the context of missile strikes.

There has been more contact between the Kremlin and the US, according to a report by the Russian Interfax news agency.

It said Russia’s foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin held a call with John Ratcliffe, who’s the director of the CIA.

Among the topics discussed, the report said, were cooperation between their agencies and crisis management.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published today, speaking in the context of a possible Ukraine peace deal, that Russia will avoid compromises that would jeopardise people’s lives, Russian agencies reported.

He reiterated Russia’s stance that it will under no conditions accept the presence of Nato troops in Ukraine.

During the meeting with US officials in Jeddah, Ukraine proposed three key points – silence in the skies and at sea, and the release of prisoners of war and detainees.

Zelensky added: ‘Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal – we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it.

‘Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth.

‘Now, it is up to the US to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.’

Following the meetings, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the US will now ‘take this offer’ to Russia, adding that ‘the ball is in their court’.

He and national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed president Donald Trump has lifted a pause on aid and security assistance to Ukraine.

Rubio added that Trump ‘wanted this war to end yesterday’ and said he hopes Russia will accept the ceasefire deal ‘as soon as possible’.

‘We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,’ Rubio said.

‘If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.’

A joint statement from the US and Ukrainian delegations earlier today confirmed the two countries will conclude a minerals deal ‘as soon as possible’ after relations between them soured following a highly confrontational meeting in the White House.

Zelensky said the discussion between Ukraine and the US was ‘good and constructive’ and lasted for most of the day.

‘I am grateful to Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams,’ he added.

‘During today’s talks, the US side proposed taking an even bigger first step – a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line.’

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer called the talks a ‘remarkable breakthrough’ and also said the ball is now in Russia’s court.

He said: ‘I warmly welcome the agreement today in Jeddah and congratulate president Trump and president Zelensky for this remarkable breakthrough.

‘This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.

‘As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.’