On Sunday, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s intention to restart direct negotiations with Ukraine regarding the ongoing war, proposing that talks take place in Turkey on May 15. He indicated he would discuss this with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later that day, emphasizing that Russia would not impose any preconditions for the discussions. Putin noted that Ukraine had previously left talks and violated ceasefire agreements, while both sides have faced blame for violations during the most recent ceasefires. He expressed a desire for meaningful negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace.
Putin’s declarations coincided with the conclusion of a three-day ceasefire that Russia had implemented. In response to Russia’s actions, leaders from the UK, France, Poland, and Germany warned of potential sanctions if Russia did not agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. During a joint press conference, the leaders highlighted their support for Ukraine, as they participated in a memorial for Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This collective stance involved over 30 countries vowing to bolster Ukraine.
The ceasefire aims to halt all combat activities across land, sea, and air, allowing a framework for peace negotiations. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, former special envoy to Ukraine, emphasized that such a ceasefire could initiate a resolution to the prolonged conflict, quoting former President Donald Trump’s directive to “stop the killing now.”
Putin reiterates his demands for Ukraine to recognize Russian annexations in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions and to commit to not joining NATO, among others, while asserting Russia’s capacity to continue the war if necessary.
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