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Kyiv, 11 May 2025 – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to resume peace talks a “good sign” but stressed the need for an immediate 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations. The statement came after Putin’s televised speech on Saturday, in which he proposed resuming direct talks in Istanbul on 15 May aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Everyone in the world has been waiting for this for a very long time,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “There is no point in continuing the killing even for one day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting and reliable – starting tomorrow, 12 May, and Ukraine is ready to meet.” Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, echoed this position, stating on Telegram that the ceasefire must come first, “and then everything else.”
Putin’s proposal comes at a critical time, coinciding with the last day of a three-day ceasefire declared by Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in Europe. However, the Russian leader has resisted international pressure, particularly from the United States, Britain and European leaders, to extend the pause for 30 days. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed the “seriousness” of Putin’s intentions to find a peaceful solution, saying that the talks are aimed at “eliminating the root causes of the conflict” and protecting Russia’s interests. Peskov also accused Ukraine of being dependent on Western “curators,” a claim that Kyiv and its allies have repeatedly denied.
European leaders united in Kyiv
These developments follow a historic joint visit to Kyiv on Saturday by European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. At Zelenskyy’s invitation, the leaders visited Maidan Nezalezhnosti to commemorate those who have died since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. They later held a virtual meeting with nearly two dozen European heads of state, reiterating their call for a ceasefire.
“If Putin is serious about peace, he has a chance to prove it now by extending the pause to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire,” Starmer said at the joint press conference. If the Russian leader refuses, Starmer warned that he and U.S. President Donald Trump and other partners would increase sanctions and military assistance to Ukraine.
International reaction
US President Donald Trump welcomed Putin’s proposal in a post on TruthSocial, calling it “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine”. He expressed hope that it could end the “endless slaughter” and save hundreds of thousands of lives. At the same time, French President Macron called Putin’s proposal “a first step, but not enough,” suggesting that the Russian leader is “looking for a way out, but still wants to buy time.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Istanbul’s readiness to host peace talks again, as his administration announced after a phone call with Putin on Sunday.
The context of the negotiations
Putin’s proposal builds on previous talks known as the Istanbul Communique, which began in Belarus and then moved to Istanbul. In May 2022, the talks broke down after a draft agreement was prepared. According to the draft, Ukraine had to agree to permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States. There were also preliminary agreements on Ukraine’s non-recognition status, refusal to join NATO, and the repeal of laws that Moscow considered discriminatory against the Russian-speaking population. Russia stated that it would not prevent Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The current situation remains tense, as Russia insists on cutting off Western military aid to Ukraine during any potential ceasefire, a demand that has been rejected by leaders in Kyiv. At the same time, European leaders and Trump have warned that if Putin refuses to abandon the ceasefire, sanctions against Russia will increase and arms supplies to Ukraine will increase.
This visit to Kyiv was the first for Friedrich Merz as German Chancellor after his election this week. Earlier, Merz had expressed his readiness to approve the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, which was considered too provocative a move under his predecessor Olaf Scholz due to their range of over 300 miles and the ability to hit targets in Russia.
While diplomatic efforts continue, fighting on the frontline has not stopped, despite a three-day ceasefire recently announced by Putin. Zelenskyy rejected the offer, and sporadic clashes continue along the frontline. The international community is looking forward to further steps that could bring peace to Ukraine.
Source: The Times
