Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed resuming direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 “without preconditions.”
Speaking to the press in the Kremlin early Sunday morning, Putin spoke of the need to “resume” peace talks that were held between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.
“We are ready for serious negotiations with Ukraine,” Putin noted, adding that he does not rule out the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement in the future during direct negotiations with Ukraine.
His comments came after leaders of four major European states threatened to step up pressure on Putin unless he agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which they proposed on Saturday in a show of unity with Kiev.
The leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland said their ceasefire initiative, due to begin on Monday, had been endorsed by US President Donald Trump, with whom they had spoken by phone earlier in the day.
On Sunday, Putin reiterated that the Kremlin needed a ceasefire that would lead to a “sustainable peace,” not one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize its forces.
He said he would contact Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ask him to help organize peace talks on May 15, noting that “those who sincerely desire peace cannot but support” his initiative to resume peace talks.
Putin has not given a direct response to the latest cease-fire proposal, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN on Saturday that Moscow would have to consider the proposal.
Earlier in the day, Peskov reiterated Russia's position that it was ready for peace talks with Ukraine “without preconditions” and accused Kyiv of blocking those talks.
A unilateral three-day ceasefire declared by Russia to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany expired on Saturday, and Ukraine said Russian troops had repeatedly violated it.
In March, the United States proposed an immediate, limited 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin insisted on more favorable terms for itself.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv along with European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described their meeting as “a very important signal.”
In a joint statement published on Zelensky's official website, the five leaders
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
