KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy mentioned he’s hoping for a full and short-term ceasefire with Russia beginning Monday, including he can be in Turkey to barter with Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally.”
His feedback got here after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine settle for Russia’s newest provide of holding direct talks in Turkey on Thursday. Ukraine, together with European allies, had demanded Russia settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday earlier than holding talks, however Moscow successfully rejected the proposal and referred to as for direct negotiations as a substitute.
It was not clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkey on the Monday ceasefire holding.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, ranging from tomorrow, to supply the required foundation for diplomacy. There isn’t any level in prolonging the killings. And I can be ready for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians won’t search for excuses,” he wrote on X.
Trump mentioned in a social media publish Sunday that Ukraine ought to comply with Putin’s peace talks proposal “IMMEDIATELY.”
“Not less than they are going to be capable of decide whether or not or not a deal is feasible, and if it isn’t, European leaders, and the U.S., will know the place all the pieces stands, and may proceed accordingly!” Trump wrote, including: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Ukraine, Allies Insist On A Ceasefire
Mstyslav Chernov by way of Related Press
Zelenskyy, writing on X on Sunday, mentioned it was a “constructive signal that the Russians have lastly begun to contemplate ending the warfare” and mentioned that “all the world has been ready for this for a really very long time.”
He added, nevertheless, that “the very first step in really ending any warfare is a ceasefire,” in a reference to his proposal to start out a 30-day unconditional truce on Monday.
Putin in remarks to the media in a single day successfully rejected that ceasefire provide and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday as a substitute “with out preconditions.” He mentioned a ceasefire is perhaps agreed on through the negotiations — however harassed that the Kremlin wants a truce that might result in a “lasting peace” as a substitute of 1 that might permit Ukraine to rearm and mobilize extra males into its armed forces.
Putin’s counter-offer got here after leaders from 4 main European international locations threatened to ratchet up pressure on Moscow if it doesn’t settle for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and issued a coordinated name for the truce beginning Monday. The plan has acquired backing from each the European Union and Trump.
The leaders pledged harder sanctions on Russia if Putin didn’t settle for the proposal.
Zelenskyy, in his Sunday remarks, reiterated that decision. “There isn’t any level in persevering with the killing even for a single day. We anticipate Russia to substantiate a ceasefire — full, lasting, and dependable — beginning tomorrow, Could twelfth, and Ukraine is able to meet,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned on X.
Macron mentioned Sunday that Putin’s provide of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a primary step, however not sufficient,” signaling continued Western skepticism towards Moscow’s intentions.
“An unconditional ceasefire shouldn’t be preceded by negotiations,” Macron instructed reporters on the Polish-Ukrainian border, based on French media.
Macron additionally warned that Putin is “on the lookout for a approach out, however he nonetheless needs to purchase time.”
Moscow Presses On With Peace Talks Provide, Whereas Turkey Says It’s Prepared To Host
Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in feedback aired by Russian state TV on Sunday, referred to as Putin’s proposal “very severe,” aimed toward eliminating “the basis causes of the battle,” and mentioned it “confirms an actual intention to discover a peaceable answer.”
With out instantly mentioning Moscow’s proposal, Trump mentioned in a social media publish a number of hours after Putin’s in a single day remarks that it was “a probably nice day for Russia and Ukraine!”
“Consider the lots of of hundreds of lives that can be saved as this by no means ending ‘massacre’ hopefully involves an finish,” Trump wrote. “I’ll proceed to work with each side to ensure that it occurs. The USA needs to focus, as a substitute, on Rebuilding and Commerce. A BIG week upcoming!” he added.
In one other publish on Sunday, the U.S. president mentioned Ukraine ought to settle for Moscow’s provide “to satisfy on Thursday, in Turkey, to barter a potential finish to the BLOODBATH.” He added, nevertheless, that he was “beginning to doubt that Ukraine will make a cope with Putin.”
Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin mentioned.
Based on the Kremlin’s readout of the telephone name, Erdogan “totally supported the Russian proposal, emphasizing his readiness to supply” a platform for the talks in Istanbul, in addition to “all potential help in organizing and holding the negotiations aimed toward reaching sustainable peace.”
Erdogan additionally spoke to Macron on Sunday, based on an announcement from the Turkish presidential communications workplace, and mentioned {that a} “historic turning level” had been reached in efforts to finish the warfare.
Russian Assaults Proceed
In the meantime, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, after its self-declared three-day pause expired.
Russia launched 108 assault drones and simulator drones from six completely different instructions, Ukraine’s air drive mentioned. It mentioned 60 drones have been shot down and one other 41 simulator drones failed to succeed in targets because of Ukrainian countermeasures.
The Russian Protection Ministry on Sunday accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow’s three-day ceasefire greater than 14,000 occasions. Ukraine, which didn’t comply with the Could 8-10 ceasefire, has additionally accused Russia of violating its personal truce, with the Ukrainian international minister calling it a farce.
Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. Related Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Thomas Adamson-Koumbouzis in Paris contributed to this report.
