KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy mentioned he’s hoping for a full and short-term ceasefire with Russia beginning Monday, including he can be in Turkey to barter with Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally.”
His feedback got here after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine settle for Russia’s newest supply of holding direct talks in Turkey on Thursday. Ukraine, together with European allies, had demanded Russia settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday earlier than holding talks, however Moscow successfully rejected the proposal and referred to as for direct negotiations as an alternative.
It was not clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkey on the Monday ceasefire holding.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” he wrote on X.
Trump mentioned in a social media submit Sunday that Ukraine ought to comply with Putin’s peace talks proposal “IMMEDIATELY.”
“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” Trump wrote, including: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Ukraine, Allies Insist On A Ceasefire
Mstyslav Chernov through Related Press
Zelenskyy, writing on X on Sunday, mentioned it was a “positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war” and mentioned that “the entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time.”
He added, nevertheless, that “the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” in a reference to his proposal to begin a 30-day unconditional truce on Monday.
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 “without preconditions.” He mentioned a ceasefire is likely to be agreed on through the negotiations — however confused that the Kremlin wants a truce that may result in a “lasting peace” as an alternative of 1 that may enable Ukraine to rearm and mobilize extra males into its armed forces.
Putin’s counter-offer got here after leaders from 4 main European nations threatened to ratchet up stress on Moscow if it doesn’t settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
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 acquired backing from each the European Union and Trump.
The leaders pledged more durable sanctions on Russia if Putin didn’t settle for the proposal.
Zelenskyy, in his Sunday remarks, reiterated that decision. “There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — full, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned on X.
Macron mentioned Sunday that Putin’s supply of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a first step, but not enough,” signaling continued Western skepticism towards Moscow’s intentions.
“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations,” Macron advised reporters on the Polish-Ukrainian border, in line with French media.
Macron additionally warned that Putin is “looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time.”
Moscow Presses On With Peace Talks Provide, Whereas Turkey Says It’s Prepared To Host
Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP through Getty Photographs
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in feedback aired by Russian state TV on Sunday, referred to as Putin’s proposal “very serious,” aimed toward eliminating “the root causes of the conflict,” and mentioned it “confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution.”
With out straight mentioning Moscow’s proposal, Trump mentioned in a social media submit a number of hours after Putin’s in a single day remarks that it was “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!”
“Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully comes to an end,” Trump wrote. “I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!” he added.
In one other submit on Sunday, the U.S. president mentioned Ukraine ought to settle for Moscow’s supply “to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.” He added, nevertheless, that he was “starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin.”
Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin mentioned.
In keeping with the Kremlin’s readout of the telephone name, Erdogan “fully supported the Russian proposal, emphasizing his readiness to provide” a platform for the talks in Istanbul, in addition to “all possible assistance in organizing and holding the negotiations aimed at achieving sustainable peace.”
Erdogan additionally spoke to Macron on Sunday, in line with a press release from the Turkish presidential communications workplace, and mentioned {that a} “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to finish the conflict.
Russian Assaults Proceed
In the meantime, Russia resumed mass drone assaults in Ukraine early on Sunday, after its self-declared three-day pause expired.
Russia launched 108 assault drones and simulator drones from six completely different instructions, Ukraine’s air pressure mentioned. It mentioned 60 drones have been shot down and one other 41 simulator drones failed to achieve targets because of Ukrainian countermeasures.
The Russian Protection Ministry on Sunday accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow’s three-day ceasefire greater than 14,000 instances. 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.
Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. Related Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Thomas Adamson-Koumbouzis in Paris contributed to this report.
