Kyiv [Ukraine], May 12: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's offer of direct negotiations in Turkey, but insisted that a full ceasefire should take effect on Monday.
"It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war," Zelensky wrote on X on Sunday, one day after European leaders convened in Kiev to support a US-backed push to pause fighting in Ukraine, threatening Moscow with sanctions if it does not comply.
"The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time," Zelensky added. "And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire." Putin earlier proposed to resume direct talks between Moscow and Kiev without preconditions in Istanbul as early as Thursday, although he did not directly address the demand for a 30-day ceasefire.
"Those who really want peace cannot be against [the proposal]," Putin said, speaking shortly after a three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war that he had declared unilaterally expired at midnight (2100 GMT Saturday).
The developments came after French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met in Kiev.
Together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they called for a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions, set to commence on Monday, or face new sanctions.
Source: Qatar Tribune
