Zelensky Demands Cease-Fire in Response to Putin’s Call for Direct Talks

[ad_1] President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine responded cautiously on Sunday morning to Russia’s provide of direct talks, calling it a “optimistic signal” however insisting that President Vladimir V. Putin should conform to a right away cease-fire first.

Mr. Zelensky’s feedback got here hours after Mr. Putin rejected a cease-fire and as a substitute proposed that direct talks between representatives of the 2 nations happen on Could 15 in Istanbul. The Ukrainian chief didn't straight deal with these particulars, however stated in a social media publish that he nonetheless “anticipated Russia to substantiate a cease-fire” that might begin on Monday.

The forwards and backwards between Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin got here after the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland visited Kyiv and introduced a Monday deadline for Russia to simply accept a 30-day cease-fire or face extra sanctions. The European leaders, who spoke by telephone from Kyiv on Saturday with President Trump, stated that america would additionally impose sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin didn't agreed to a truce.

Since initiating efforts to finish the conflict in Ukraine three months in the past, the Trump administration has aligned with Russia on a vote within the United Nations on the conflict and resumed broader diplomatic ties with Moscow. It has left in place current financial sanctions however has not ramped up strain with extra restrictions, whilst Mr. Putin has proven little signal of pulling again within the conflict. In contrast, Ukraine agreed in March to an American proposal for an unconditional cease-fire.

At a late-night information convention on Saturday, Mr. Putin responded to the European deadline by asking for direct talks with Ukraine that might start in Istanbul within the coming days, however he didn't settle for the cease-fire proposal. Earlier, the Kremlin spokesman stated Russia would accomplish that provided that Western governments stopped supplying arms to Ukraine.

Mr. Trump praised the diplomatic efforts in a social media publish in a single day, saying that it was a “doubtlessly nice day for Russia and Ukraine!” However the president didn't give any indication of how he seen Mr. Putin’s response, or whether or not it might set off new American sanctions on Russia.

“Consider the a whole bunch of 1000's of lives that shall be saved as this by no means ending ‘massacre’ hopefully involves an finish,” he wrote. “Will probably be a complete new, and a lot better, WORLD. I'll proceed to work with either side to guarantee that it occurs.”

President Emmanuel Macron of France known as Russia’s response inadequate, saying as he left Ukraine that it was “a primary step however not sufficient.” Mr. Macron stated that Mr. Putin was stalling together with his counteroffer of direct talks and “needs to purchase time.”

The European leaders who visited Kyiv on Saturday had been clear that solely with an unconditional cease-fire would Moscow keep away from coming underneath extra sanctions.

The Kremlin had declared a unilateral, three-day truce final week across the nation’s celebration of the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. Ukraine’s navy confirmed that almost all long-range strikes had halted over that interval, however preventing alongside the entrance carried on with out pause.

Russia resumed its long-range drone assaults on Ukraine in a single day on Sunday. From midnight till mid-morning Sunday, Russian forces launched 108 Iranian-designed Shahed drones, the Ukrainian air power stated, setting off air alarms in a number of cities.