MOSCOW − Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine for the primary time in years, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Kyiv was ready for any dialogue to halt assaults on civilian targets.
Putin and Zelenskyy face stress from the U.S., which has threatened to walk away from its peace efforts except some progress is achieved.
Russia and Ukraine have mentioned they’re open to additional ceasefires after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow on the weekend. All sides accused the opposite of violating it.
Extra: Trump could abandon peace negotiations in Russia’s war on Ukraine
Talks are scheduled this week in London. Ukraine mentioned on Monday it was sending a delegation to satisfy officers from the USA and European international locations. The talks are a follow-up to a Paris assembly final week the place the U.S. and European states mentioned methods to finish the greater than three-year-old war.
Putin, talking to a Russian state TV reporter on April 21, mentioned preventing had resumed after the Easter ceasefire, which he introduced unilaterally on Saturday. And Moscow, he mentioned, was open to any peace initiatives and anticipated the identical from Kyiv.
“Now we have all the time talked about this, that we have now a optimistic perspective in the direction of any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will really feel the identical approach,” Putin informed state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted later by Interfax information company, informed reporters: “When the president mentioned that it was doable to debate the problem of not hanging civilian targets, together with bilaterally, the president had in thoughts negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian aspect.”
There have been no direct talks between the 2 sides for the reason that early weeks after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Assaults on civilian targets
Zelenskyy, in his nightly video handle, mentioned Ukraine stood by its proposal for an finish to assaults on civilian targets and was prepared for any type of dialogue to attain it. Beforehand, the U.S. and Ukraine had framed this as a 30-day ceasefire.
“Ukraine maintains its proposal to not strike on the very least civilian targets. And we expect a transparent response from Moscow,” he mentioned. “We’re prepared for any dialog about the right way to obtain this.”
A grave is adorned with an Easter egg and the portrait of a fallen Ukrainian soldier on the Lychakiv Navy Cemetery on Easter Sunday in Lviv, Ukraine, on April 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He mentioned the London talks “have a main process: to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This have to be the start line.”
Zelenskyy had earlier on Monday mentioned an unconditional ceasefire can be “adopted by the institution of an actual and lasting peace.”
Washington has mentioned it will welcome an extension of the weekend truce. Zelenskyy mentioned continued Russian assaults in the course of the transient Easter ceasefire confirmed Moscow was intent on prolonging the warfare.
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned Ukraine’s forces have been instructed to proceed to reflect the Russian military’s actions.
“The character of Ukraine’s actions will stay symmetrical: ceasefire might be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes might be met with our personal in defence. Actions all the time converse louder than phrases,” he mentioned on X.
Russian calls for
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio each mentioned on Friday that Washington may stroll away from peace talks altogether if the perimeters don’t make extra progress inside days. Trump struck a extra optimistic word Sunday, saying that “hopefully” the 2 sides would make a deal “this week.”
Russia’s calls for together with Ukraine ceding all of the land Putin claims to have annexed and settle for everlasting neutrality. Ukraine says that may quantity to give up and depart it undefended if Moscow assaults once more.
“President Putin and the Russian aspect stay open to searching for a peaceable settlement. We’re persevering with to work with the American aspect and, after all, we hope that this work will yield outcomes,” Peskov informed reporters.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Putin says he’s ready for direct talks with Ukraine
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