Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday welcomed Russia’s supply for direct peace talks, however insisted there have to be a full, temporary ceasefire in place earlier than negotiations can begin.
Zelenskyy, writing on X, mentioned it was a “constructive signal that the Russians have lastly begun to think about ending the warfare” and mentioned that “your complete world has been ready for this for a really very long time.”
He added, nevertheless, that “the very first step in really ending any warfare is a ceasefire,” in a reference to his proposal to start out a 30-day unconditional truce on Monday.
“There isn’t a level in persevering with the killing even for a single day. We count on Russia to verify a ceasefire — full, lasting, and dependable — beginning tomorrow, Might twelfth, and Ukraine is able to meet,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in remarks to the media in a single day successfully rejected that ceasefire supply and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday as an alternative “with out preconditions.” He mentioned a ceasefire is perhaps agreed on through the negotiations.
Putin’s counter-offer got here after leaders from 4 main European nations threatened to ratchet up pressure on Moscow if it doesn’t settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and issued a coordinated name for the truce beginning Monday. The plan has obtained backing from each the European Union and U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a social media put up a number of hours after Putin’s in a single day remarks about peace talks, Trump mentioned it was “a probably nice day for Russia and Ukraine!”
“I’ll proceed to work with each side to be sure that it occurs. The USA desires to focus, as an alternative, on Rebuilding and Commerce. A BIG week upcoming!” he added.
Macron mentioned Sunday that Putin’s supply of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a primary step, however not sufficient,” signaling continued Western skepticism towards Moscow’s intentions.
“An unconditional ceasefire isn’t preceded by negotiations,” Macron instructed reporters on the Polish-Ukrainian border, in response to French media.
Macron additionally warned that Putin is “in search of a manner out, however he nonetheless desires to purchase time.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in feedback aired by Russian state TV on Sunday, known as Putin’s proposal “very severe,” aimed toward eliminating “the basis causes of the battle,” and mentioned it “confirms an actual intention for discover a peaceable answer.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday spoke to Macron and Putin and instructed them in separate telephone calls that Turkey was able to host the peace talks. He additionally mentioned {that a} “historic turning level” had been reached in efforts to finish the warfare, in response to an announcement from the Turkish presidential communications workplace.
In the meantime, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, after its self-declared three-day pause expired.
Russia launched 108 assault drones and simulator drones from six totally different instructions, Ukraine’s air drive mentioned. It mentioned 60 drones had been shot down and one other 41 simulator drones failed to succeed in targets because of Ukrainian countermeasures.
The Russian Protection Ministry on Sunday accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow’s three-day ceasefire greater than 14,000 occasions. Ukraine, which didn’t comply with the Might 8-10 ceasefire, has additionally accused Russia of violating its personal truce, with the Ukrainian overseas minister calling it a farce.
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