Ukraine will hold a direct meeting with Russia later this week, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Vladimir Putin’s overnight negotiations in Turkey only if Moscow first signed an unconditional ceasefire.
“It’s pointless to continue killing even in one day. Russia expects to confirm the ceasefire that begins on May 12th and May 12th.
His chief of staff, Andry Yamak, was more clear in the telegram post in response to Putin’s suggestion that Ukrainian and Russian delegations should meet in Istanbul this Thursday.
Demand for a 30-day ceasefire was set on Saturday during a four-way visit to Kiev by British, French, German and Polish leaders who called US President Donald Trump before Zelenki held a joint press conference.
If Putin refuses the offer, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said, “We will work with President Trump to work with all our partners, strengthen sanctions and increase military aid to help Ukrainian defense bring Russia back to the table.”
The reaction to the Russian President’s ultimatum came in the unusual form of a statement read by a journalist in the Kremlin ritual room near 2am local time (midnight BST). He accused Ukraine of violating the previous ceasefire, but “despite this” he said he was proposing that the two parties meet for talks. “We are ready for serious talks with Ukraine and we want to resolve the root causes of the conflict,” Putin said.
His tone seemed carefully adjusted to reject European demands, but made Moscow seem to play constructively in the eyes of the Trump administration. Putin emphasized his gratitude to the new administration for his efforts to resolve the conflict.
Trump’s initial response, posted on the Truth Social Network a few hours later, suggested that the tactic could have worked. The President of the United States wrote: “It’s a potentially wonderful day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives saved, hoping this will never end.
MNA/