Zelenskyy responds to Putin: Ukraine open to talks, but sets condition
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is ready to meet for negotiations with Russia, but Moscow must first confirm a ceasefire starting May 12, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram.
The head of state called it "a good sign" that the Russians were considering ending the war. He stressed that the first step toward truly ending any war is a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy was responding to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks in Istanbul. The president said Ukraine is open to meetings, but a ceasefire must come first.
"There is no reason to continue the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — complete, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Ceasefire deadline
As a reminder, on May 10, Kyiv hosted a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Ukraine.
Following the coalition meeting, Zelenskyy, Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk held a call with US President Donald Trump. As a result of the talks, Ukraine announced it was ready for a full ceasefire — on land, in the air, and at sea — for at least 30 days starting May 12.
European leaders stated that Russia would face new sanctions if it refused to agree to a ceasefire.
However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin effectively rejected the truce proposal during a late-night press conference at the Kremlin. He offered to resume direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul starting May 15, without preconditions.
According to the Russian leader, he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 11 and ask him to host the negotiations in Istanbul.
