Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will ask Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tomorrow to organize direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev on May 15 in Istanbul, not ruling out the possibility that this could lead to a prolonged ceasefire.
The proposal comes after yesterday's meeting in Kiev of the leaders of the Volunteers coalition with Ukrainian President Zelensky, at the end of which an ultimatum was sent to Putin: Russia must accept a 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions from the EU and the US, at which Macron, Merz, Starmer and Tusk were present, while others spoke remotely, such as Prime Minister Meloni.
In his statement early Sunday, Putin made no mention of the 30-day ceasefire and called the ultimatums issued yesterday by Kiev and the leaders of the willing countries “inappropriate,” stressing that “those who want peace cannot but support” Moscow’s proposal. In a late-night statement to reporters, reported by Ria Novosti, Putin accused Kiev of rejecting several ceasefire proposals, including the latest three-day ceasefire, which expired at midnight.
"Despite everything, we propose to the Kiev authorities to resume the negotiations that they interrupted in 2022, to resume direct negotiations and without preconditions. We propose to start without delay next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were previously held and where they were interrupted."
Putin also thanked the US administration of Donald Trump for its mediation efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "confident" that "sooner or later" there would be "movements towards the restoration of constructive relations" between Russia and "European states", "including those" that he said were addressing Moscow "in a fundamentally rude manner and through ultimatums".
At dawn today, just hours after the end of the 72-hour ceasefire announced by Putin, Russia launched a drone attack on Kiev.
Macron: Putin's proposal is a first step, but not enough
Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is "a first step, but not enough," French President Emmanuel Macron said today. "An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations," Macron told reporters as he got off a train in the Polish city of Przemysl, returning from his visit to Ukraine yesterday. Putin is "looking for a way out, but still wants to buy time," he added.
Trump: I will continue to work with the parties to end the war
Donald Trump reiterated this morning his intention to “continue to work with both sides” to end the conflict in Ukraine. “Potentially a great day for Russia and Ukraine!” the US president wrote on his Truth Social account, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct” negotiations between Kiev and Moscow and the West’s call for a ceasefire as early as Monday. “Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved with a hopeful end to this endless ‘bloodshed’… I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that happens,” he added.
Russian governor: Ukrainian drone in Belgorod, one injured
The governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a man was injured this morning after a Ukrainian drone strike on a moving vehicle, Tass reports. "In the town of Valuiki, a man was injured in a drone strike on a moving car. The man was urgently taken to hospital with multiple shrapnel wounds to the back," the message posted on Telegram said. Two vehicles were damaged in the attack, the governor added. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
