President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine responded cautiously on Sunday morning to Russia’s supply of direct talks, saying it was a “optimistic signal” however urgent for a right away truce first, simply hours after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had rejected a cease-fire.
Mr. Zelensky’s response didn’t instantly tackle Mr. Putin’s suggestion that representatives of the 2 nations meet on Could 15week in Istanbul. However the Ukrainian chief mentioned in a social media put up that he “anticipated Russia to substantiate a cease-fire” that will begin on Monday.
The forwards and backwards between Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin got here after the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland visited Kyiv and introduced a Monday deadline for Russia to simply accept a 30-day cease-fire or face further sanctions. The European leaders, who spoke by telephone from Kyiv on Saturday with President Trump, mentioned that america would additionally impose sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin didn’t agreed to a truce.
Since initiating efforts to finish the battle in Ukraine three months in the past, the Trump administration has aligned with Russia on a vote within the United Nations on the battle and resumed broader diplomatic ties with Moscow. It has left in place current financial sanctions however has not ramped up stress with further restrictions, whilst Mr. Putin has proven little signal of pulling again within the battle. Against this, Ukraine agreed in March to an American proposal for an unconditional cease-fire.
At a late-night information convention on Saturday, Mr. Putin responded to the European deadline by asking for direct talks with Ukraine that will start in Istanbul within the coming days, however he didn’t settle for the cease-fire proposal. Earlier, the Kremlin spokesman mentioned Russia would achieve this provided that Western governments stopped supplying arms to Ukraine.
Mr. Trump praised the diplomatic efforts in a social media put up in a single day, saying that it was a “probably nice day for Russia and Ukraine!” However the president didn’t give any indication of how he considered Mr. Putin’s response, or whether or not it could set off new American sanctions on Russia.
“Consider the tons of of 1000’s of lives that will probably be saved as this by no means ending ‘massacre’ hopefully involves an finish,” he wrote. “It will likely be a complete new, and a lot better, WORLD. I’ll proceed to work with each side to guarantee that it occurs.”
President Emmanuel Macron of France referred to as Russia’s response inadequate, saying as he left Ukraine that it was “a primary step however not sufficient.” Mr. Macron mentioned that Mr. Putin was stalling together with his counteroffer of direct talks and “needs to purchase time.”
The European leaders who visited Kyiv on Saturday have been clear that solely with an unconditional cease-fire would Moscow keep away from coming below further sanctions.
The Kremlin had declared a unilateral, three-day truce final week across the nation’s celebration of the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. Ukraine’s army confirmed that almost all long-range strikes had halted over that interval, however combating alongside the entrance carried on with out pause.
Russia resumed its long-range drone assaults on Ukraine in a single day on Sunday. From midnight till mid-morning Sunday, Russian forces launched 108 Iranian-designed Shahed drones, the Ukrainian air pressure mentioned, setting off air alarms in a number of cities.
Source link