Russian President Vladimir Putin called for “direct talks” with Ukraine, saying that they should “start without delay, from May 15”.
“We are looking for serious interviews … to remove the deep causes of the conflict and start to progress towards a lasting and strong peace,” he said on a rare television speech at the end of the Kremlin on Saturday.
This comes a few hours after European leaders – including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron – visited Ukraine and urged Russia to accept an unconditional 30 -day cease -fire.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow “should think about this” – but warned that “trying to put us pressure is completely useless”.
Putin said he “did not exclude” that, during talks – he proposed should occur in the Turkish capital, Istanbul – Russia and Ukraine could “be able to agree on new ceases, a new truce”.
The Russian chief said that he would speak to Turkish President Rece Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss details.
Kyiv did not comment on Putin’s proposal.
During his declaration, Putin also accused Ukraine of not having responded several times to three Moscow ceasefire proposals-a 30-day stop in the attacks against energy infrastructure, the Easter break and a cease-fire ordered last month by Putin to coincide with the commemorative events of the Second World War.
Ukraine previously declared that Russian attacks continued throughout these periods. Russia has made similar claims on Ukraine.
“Despite everything, we offer the kyiv authorities to resume negotiations … resume direct talks, and I care, without any prerequisite,” said Putin.
The last direct talks between Moscow and kyiv took place shortly after the large -scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia began more than three years ago.
