Kyiv, Ukraine (AP)-The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Russia’s offer for direct peace talks on Sunday, but insisted that there must be a complete and temporary cease-fire before negotiations can begin.
Zelenskyy, writing on X, called the Russian president Vladimir Putin to start talks constantly a “positive sign” and said that “the whole world has been waiting for this for a very long time”.
However, he added that “the very first step in the end of any war is a cease-fire”.
Meanwhile, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, after the expiration of its 3-day self-declared break.
Russia has launched 108 attack drones and simulation drones of six different directions, Ukraine said on Sunday. He said 60 drones have been killed and that 41 other simulator drones have not achieved objectives due to Ukrainian countermeasures.
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of “raping” the three-day Moscow ceasefire more than 14,000 times. Ukraine also accused Russia of having violated its own truce, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs calling him a farce.
Ukraine has not accepted the ceasefire from May 8 to 10 of Russia, said Russia unilaterally and accused of having violated it on several occasions.
The Ukrainian President seemed to insist on his proposal to start an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on Monday. “There is no point in continuing the murder even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, sustainable and reliable – from tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” said Zelenskyy.
Putin in media remarks has effectively rejected this ceasefire offer and proposed restart direct talks with Ukraine In Istanbul on Thursday in place “without prerequisites”. He said that a cease-fire could be agreed during negotiations.
Putin’s counter-offer came after the leaders of four major European countries threatened to Ratchet up pressure on Moscow if he does not accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that they offered on Saturday in a strong unit demonstration with kyiv.
In an article on social networks several hours after Putin’s remarks, US President Donald Trump said it was “a potentially formidable day for Russia and Ukraine!”
“I will continue to work with both parties to make sure it happens. The United States rather wants to focus on reconstruction and trade. A big week to come! ” He added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in the comments broadcast on Sunday by Russian state television, described Putin’s proposal for “very serious” and said that she “confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution”.
“The objectives of the talks are clear: eliminate the deep causes of the conflict. And also to ensure the interests of the Russian Federation,” said Peskov.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Emmanuel Macron of France during a telephone call that Turkey was ready to contribute to peace between Russia and Ukraine, in particular by organizing negotiations to “establish a cease-fire and lasting peace”.
During the call on Sunday, Erdogan said that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the war, according to a press release from the Turkish Presidential Communication Office.
The Turkish chief also spoke to Putin on Sunday, said his communications office, and said his desire to welcome negotiations “which could lead to sustainable resolution.”
Erdogan also said that he had praised Putin’s statement concerning the resumption of peace talks in Istanbul.
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The writer Associated Press Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed.
