Putin demands “direct conversations” with Ukraine on May 15th

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukraine to take part in “direct promise” on May 15, hours after the European leader Moscow had asked to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

In a rare television approach from Kremlin, Putin said that Russia was looking for “serious negotiations” that aim to “draw on a permanent, strong peace”.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Strandmer traveled to Kyiv with colleagues from France, Germany and Poland to put pressure on Russia from Monday to commit to an unconditional ceasefire.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Moscow had to “think through” – but warned that “the attempt to put us under pressure was rather useless”.

In his own explanation, Putin said that he could “not rule out” that the talks could lead to Russia and Ukraine “a new ceasefire”. But he did not go directly to a 30-day ceasefire.

The Russian leader said the proposed talks should be held in the Turkish city of Istanbul before, and he would speak to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on Sunday to discuss the details.

Kyiv did not respond to the invitation.

The Ukrainian capital was hosting for Sir Keir, France Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland Donald Tusk on Saturday, which are part of the “Coalition of the will” – A group of countries that have committed to support Ukraine.

In addition to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they took part in a joint press conference.

The leaders warned that “new and massive” sanctions against the energy and banking sectors should be imposed on Russia if they should not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the air, at sea and on land.

They also said they had discussed the proposal with Donald Trump. Sir Keir later told the BBC The US President was “absolutely clear” that her proposal of an immediate ceasefire “a” requirement that must be met “.

After the meeting, Zelensky thanked the assembled leaders for the “stand with” Ukraine.

“Today we will concentrate on how we can build and guarantee real and permanent security,” he said.

In response to the proposal, the Peskov of the Kremlin said: “It is a new development. But trying to put us under pressure is pretty useless.”

The Russian state media also quoted him with the statement that statements from Europe “were generally confrontative in nature, as to try to revive our relationships”.

Moscow has previously announced that the West must first stop military help for Ukraine before checking an armistice.

Putin later gave up his own statement, in which video was gathered in a hall in the Kremlin.

“This would be the first step towards long -term, permanent peace and not a prologue for armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces had received new armor and staff after feverish trenches and the establishment of new command posts,” he said.

“Who needs peace?”

Trump described Putin’s announcement as a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” in a post about the social truth.

“It will be a completely new and much better world,” he said, adding that he would “continue to work on both sides to ensure that it happens”.

In the meantime, Putin also accused Ukraine, not repeatedly responding to several ceasefire suggestions from Moscow, including A 30-day attacks on the energy infrastructure and last month Easter armistice.

Another ceasefire Putin, which was arranged in April to match the Second World War. It ended on Saturday at midnight local time (9:00 p.m. GMT).

Kyiv had rejected the one -sided, three -day ceasefire and referred to it as a “theater show”. Instead, Zelensky repeated the demand for a longer ceasefire of at least 30 days.

While it recorded a decline in the fight, each side accused the other violations.

On Thursday – on the same day, on which the supposed ceasefire came into force – Ukraine Russia accused more than 730 violations and said it reacted “appropriately”.

The Russian Ministry of Defense insisted that the ceasefire was observed before accusing Ukraine due to violations of 488.

“Despite everything, we offer the Kyiv authorities to resume the negotiations … Resumption of direct discussions and I emphasize without prerequisites,” said Putin on Saturday.

The last direct conversations between Moscow and Kyiv took place in 2022, in which Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine.