Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he hoped for a full ceasefire in the Russian war against his country from Monday, adding that he would be in Turkey to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally”.
Zelenskyy's words came in response to Putin's remarks to the media overnight, in which he actually ignored the idea of a cease -fire – pushed by Western leaders – and proposed to restart direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday “without prerequisites”.
Putin did not specify whether Thursday's talks would involve Zelenskyy and himself personally.
Zelenskyy said on X Sunday morning that it was a “positive sign that the Russians finally began to consider putting an end to war” and said that “the whole world has been waiting for this for a very long time”.
However, he added that “the very first step in the end of any war is a ceasefire”. “It is useless to continue the murder even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a cease -fire – full, sustainable and reliable – from tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” said the Ukrainian leader on X.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met Zelenskyy in kyiv on Saturday and launched a coordinated call for a 30 -day truce from Monday. The plan has received support from the European Union and Washington.
The leaders promised more severe sanctions against Russia if Putin did not accept the proposal.
Before the Kyiv visit by the quartet of European leaders, US President Donald Trump insisted that Ukraine accepted Russia’s holding of direct talks in Türkiye on Thursday. Ukraine, as well as the European allies, had demanded that Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday before holding talks, but Moscow actually rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead.
“We are waiting for a complete and sustainable ceasefire, from tomorrow, to provide the necessary base for diplomacy. It is useless to extend the murders. And I will wait for Putin in (Turkey) on Thursday. I hope this time, the Russians will not look for excuses,” he wrote on X.
Trump said in an article on social networks on Sunday earlier that Ukraine should accept Putin's proposal for “immediately” peace discussions.
“At least they will be able to determine whether an agreement is possible or not, and whether it is not the case, European leaders and the United States will know where everything is and can continue accordingly,” wrote Trump, adding: “Having the meeting, now.”
Putin spoke on Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed his preparation to organize the talks, said the Kremlin.
According to the reading by the Kremlin of the telephone call, Erdogan “fully supported the Russian proposal, emphasizing his desire to provide” a platform for talks in Istanbul, as well as “any possible assistance to organize and keep negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace”.
Erdogan also spoke to Macron on Sunday, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office, and said that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the Russia War.
