Volodymyr Zelensky accepts Vladimir Putin's challenge. "I will personally receive Putin in Turkey on Thursday," he announced, responding to the surprise proposal made the night before by the Kremlin chief for direct negotiations in Istanbul between Moscow and Kiev on May 15.
The Ukrainian president thus accepted the invitation of Donald Trump, who asked the Ukrainians to go and see Russia's cards. The change in the positions of Kiev and the US concerns the possibility of starting negotiations without first achieving the "unconditional" 30-day ceasefire demanded yesterday by the Ukrainians and the leaders of the Volunteers - France, Germany, Great Britain and Poland - during a meeting in Ukraine.
"We look forward to a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, starting tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses," Zelensky wrote on X.
On the other hand, the American president wrote on his social network "Truth", that he was convinced that "Putin does not want a ceasefire", but that Ukraine "must accept it immediately". In this way, says the head of the White House, it will be possible to see "if an agreement is possible". And "if it is not, European leaders and the United States will know what is happening and will be able to move on".
The proposal for direct negotiations was put on the table by Putin at a meeting with journalists at 2:00 am on Sunday, after the conclusion of several meetings with delegations that had arrived in Moscow for the Victory Parade. But above all, after Moscow's tough diplomatic contacts with Ankara. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
