Kyiv, March 25, 2025 | Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired a bold challenge across the battle lines to Russia’s Vladimir Putin: prove you’re serious about ending this war, or the world will know you’re just playing games. Speaking Tuesday from Kyiv, Zelenskyy welcomed a fragile Black Sea ceasefire brokered by U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, but he’s not holding his breath. “Russia’s actions in the coming days will reveal a lot, if not everything,” he said on X, per Daily Post Nigeria. For a nation battered by three years of conflict, it’s a dare laced with hope and hard-earned skepticism.
The backdrop’s a rare flicker of calm. After separate talks with U.S. negotiators in Riyadh over the weekend, Ukraine and Russia agreed Monday to halt Black Sea military strikes and ensure safe passage for commercial shipping, per Web ID 15 from Sky News. The White House hailed it as a step forward, even pledging to ease Russia’s market access for some goods. Zelenskyy, though, isn’t popping champagne. “We don’t trust them,” he posted, a sentiment echoing across Ukraine’s scarred cities. Hours later, air raid sirens wailed again 150 drones hit energy grids overnight, per Web ID 9 from NPR casting doubt on Moscow’s word. “If threats persist, new measures will hit Russia,” he warned, keeping the pressure on.
This isn’t Zelenskyy’s first rodeo with Putin’s promises. The Kremlin’s called him “illegitimate” since martial law nixed elections, per Web ID 3 from RFE/RL, while Putin’s dodged direct talks, per Web ID 1 from The Guardian. Yet Trump’s team, fresh off a call with Putin last week, per Web ID 7 from The Washington Post, claims Moscow’s softening. Zelenskyy’s not so sure. “Diplomacy must work,” he told reporters, crediting U.S. efforts but stressing results over rhetoric. X posts at 19:28 WAT lean in “Zelenskyy’s right, Putin’s stalling” while others scoff at Russia’s sincerity after fresh strikes.
For folks like Oksana in Kyiv, it’s life or death. “We want peace, but not lies,” she said, bundling her kids during a blackout. Ukraine’s lost 45,100 lives and seen 390,000 wounded, per Web ID 5 from Daily Post, while Russia’s casualties top 800,000, per Web ID 4. The Black Sea deal could ease food exports vital for Nigeria too, where grain prices sting but Zelenskyy’s eyeing Putin’s next move. “If there’s renewed military activity, we’ll know,” he said, per Daily Post Nigeria, hinting at tougher sanctions or strikes if Russia balks.
Tonight, the world watches. Trump’s pushing a 30-day ceasefire, per Web ID 19, but Putin’s energy attack pause already looks shaky, per Web ID 9. Zelenskyy’s betting on U.S. satellites to monitor it, per Web ID 2, while Finland’s president urged a full ceasefire Tuesday, per Web ID 9. Critics like Germany’s defense minister call Putin’s truce talk a “game,” per Web ID 9, and X at 22:49 WAT agrees: “Same old tricks.” Yet Kyiv’s holding the line literally and figuratively demanding proof, not promises.
This is Zelenskyy’s moment to test Putin’s spine. Will Russia step up, or keep bombing? For Oksana and millions, it’s not just diplomacy it’s survival. The next few days could shift the war’s tide, or sink it deeper. Either way, Ukraine’s not blinking.