Macron on Istanbul talks: Putin still stalling for time
Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to resume negotiations in Istanbul, calling the proposal "insufficient," according to France 24.
According to Macron, Putin’s offer is "a first step, but not enough."
"An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations," Macron told reporters after stepping off a train in the Polish city of Przemyśl following his trip to Ukraine.
He added that Putin "looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time."
What Putin said
During a late-night press conference on May 11, the Kremlin leader proposed holding direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.
"We are offering Kyiv to resume direct negotiations without any preconditions. We propose to... resume talks already on Thursday (May 15), in Istanbul," Putin stated, thereby rejecting the ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, the EU, and the US starting May 12.
Putin also said that on Sunday, May 11, he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about facilitating the negotiations.
As a reminder, Ukraine, the US, and the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing who visited Kyiv on May 10 previously warned that if the Kremlin refuses a full and unconditional ceasefire, Russia will face new sanctions. Ukraine, the US, and the EU have also drawn up a list of conditions for Putin.
