Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his nation is “ready to meet” Russian representatives after Vladimir Putin urged peace talks, topic to an unconditional ceasefire beginning on Monday.
Russia’s president put ahead the proposal for talks in Istanbul on Thursday as European leaders together with Sir Keir Starmer threatened him with recent sanctions if Russia did not adjust to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday.
Reacting to Mr Putin’s suggestion, US President Donald Trump stated it was “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” and he would “work with both sides to make sure it happens”.
Mr Zelenskyy has additionally welcomed the proposal, however reiterated his name for a ceasefire earlier than talks occur.
He stated: “It’s a constructive signal that the Russians have lastly begun to contemplate ending the conflict. The complete world has been ready for this for a really very long time. And the very first step in really ending any conflict is a ceasefire.
“There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet.”
The Kremlin stated Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan “fully supported” Mr Putin’s proposal and was able to host the talks in Istanbul, after the 2 leaders spoke over the telephone on Sunday.
He stated even when the talks do go forward “the chances are they’ll extend over a long period and there won’t be a ceasefire as a result of them, and the Russians will keep playing this out”.
On Saturday, the prime minister met the Ukrainian president alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, not too long ago elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv.
Asserting the 30-day ceasefire proposal, the leaders stated that they had secured the backing of Mr Trump after briefing him on the progress made on the so-called “coalition of the willing” plans in a 20-minute telephone name.
What Trump does subsequent is essential
Dominic Waghorn
@DominicWaghorn
Russian President Vladimir Putin is enjoying for time and will have been caught on the hop by European leaders, backed by US President Donald Trump, demanding a 30-day ceasefire throughout their go to to Kyiv yesterday.
Russia’s proposal of talks in Istanbul on Thursday seems hurriedly conceived, introduced because it was within the early hours of the morning by Putin.
There’s an added symbolism to his suggestion of Istanbul as a venue. Russia has lengthy blamed Ukraine for strolling away from peace talks in the identical metropolis in 2022.
The important thing factor is that diplomatic motion of types is occurring.
Ukraine and its European colleagues need to capitalise on Trump’s renewed enthusiasm for a ceasefire and his potential scepticism of how prepared Putin really is to make peace.
The Europeans will hope this isn’t drawn right into a protracted interval of negotiations, or just speaking concerning the thought of negotiations.
What President Trump does subsequent shall be essential.
Talking on the Kremlin within the early hours of Sunday, Mr Putin didn’t straight handle the proposal however as an alternative provided to restart peace talks Russia and Ukraine held in 2022.
“We propose the Kyiv authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted at the end of 2022… to resume direct negotiations… without any preconditions… to begin without delay next Thursday 15 May in Istanbul,” he stated.
“We think that the seriousness is to propose negotiations,” he stated, denying the transfer was a delaying tactic.
Mr Peskov stated there needed to be negotiations to discover a means for a ceasefire, including: “A simplistic approach to a ceasefire is inappropriate.”
Picture:
European leaders together with Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintain name with Donald Trump. Pic: Quantity 10
Russia’s personal unilateral three-day ceasefire, declared for the eightieth anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, expired on Saturday, and Ukraine stated Russian forces have repeatedly violated it.
After the summit in Kyiv, Sir Keir stated: “All of us here, together with the US, are calling Putin out.
“So we’re clear, all 5 leaders right here – all of the leaders of the assembly we simply had with the coalition of the prepared – an unconditional ceasefire, rejecting Putin’s situations, and clear that if he turns his again on peace, we’ll reply.
“Working with President Trump, with all our partners, we will ramp up sanctions and increase our military aid for Ukraine’s defence to pressure Russia back to the table.”
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Throughout Mr Putin’s assertion on Sunday, he insisted he would assist peace talks, including: “We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine.”
He informed reporters: “Their purpose is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict, to establish a long-term, lasting peace.
“We don’t rule out that in these negotiations it will likely be potential to agree on some new truces, a brand new ceasefire.”
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Responding to Mr Putin’s proposal, Mr Macron stated the Russian chief was “looking for a way forward, but he still has a desire to buy time”.
Mr Putin’s proposed negotiations are “a first step, but they are not sufficient,” he informed French broadcaster BFM.
“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition.”
