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Ukraine war: Putin calls for 'direct talks' between Moscow and Kyiv Putin calls for 'direct' and 'immediate' talks with Ukraine
(about 2 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for "direct talks" with Ukraine, saying they should "start without delay, as early as 15 May".Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for "direct talks" with Ukraine, saying they should "start without delay, as early as 15 May".
"We seek serious talks... to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving towards a lasting, strong peace", he said on Saturday, in a rare televised late-night address from the Kremlin."We seek serious talks... to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving towards a lasting, strong peace", he said on Saturday, in a rare televised late-night address from the Kremlin.
It comes hours after European leaders - including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron - visited Ukraine and urged Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. It came hours after European leaders - including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron - visited Ukraine and urged Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said Moscow would "have to think this through" - but warned that "trying to pressure us is quite useless". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said in response that Moscow would "have to think this through" - but warned that "trying to pressure us is quite useless".
In his statement, Putin said he would "not rule out" that in the course of the talks - which he proposed should happen in Turkey's capital Istanbul - Russia and Ukraine may "be able to agree new ceasefires, a new truce". In his statement, Putin said he would "not rule out" the possibility that the talks - which he proposed should take place in Turkey's largest city Istanbul - could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing "new ceasefires, a new truce".
The Russian leader said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details.The Russian leader said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details.
Kyiv has not commented on the proposal from Putin. Kyiv has not responded to the invitation, which came on the same day European leaders travelled to the Ukrainian capital and called on Moscow to agree to a month-long ceasefire, starting on Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, European leaders travelled to the Ukrainian capital and called on Moscow to agree to a month-long ceasefire with Ukraine, starting on Monday. Leaders of France, Germany, the UK and Poland - part of the so-called "coalition of the willing" - were hosted by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and took part in a joint news conference during the trip.
The call was issued at a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing", with the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and Poland seen standing alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. They warned that "new and massive" sanctions would be imposed on Russia's energy and banking sectors should Putin not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire "in the air, at sea and on land".
They made the announcement after discussing the plan, by phone, with US President Donald Trump - who initially mooted an unconditional ceasefire. The leaders threatened Russia with "massive" sanctions if it did not comply. They also said they had discussed the proposal with Donald Trump. Sir Keir later told the BBC the US president was "absolutely clear" that their suggestion of an immediate ceasefire was a "demand that must be met".
In response, the Kremlin said it was considering the proposal but would not respond to pressure. After the meeting - a symbolic response to Victory Day celebrations, hosted by Putin in Moscow a day earlier - Zelensky thanked the assembled leaders for "standing with" Ukraine.
After the meeting, Sir Keir said: "All of us here together with the US are calling [Russian President Vladimir] Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it." "Today we will focus on how to build and guarantee real and lasting security," he said.
Zelensky added: "Thank you all for standing with us. Today we will focus on how to build and guarantee real and lasting security." Responding to the proposal, the Kremlin's Peskov said: "It is a new development. But trying to pressure us is quite useless."
Hours later, Putin made his own statement, with video showing journalists assembled in a hall inside the Kremlin. Russian state media also quoted him as saying that statements from Europe were "generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations".
Moscow has previously said that before considering a ceasefire, the West must first halt its military aid to Ukraine.
Putin later made his own statement, with video showing journalists assembled in a hall inside the Kremlin.
"This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel, after feverish trench-digging and the establishment of new command posts," he said."This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel, after feverish trench-digging and the establishment of new command posts," he said.
"Who needs peace like that?""Who needs peace like that?"
Putin also accused Ukraine of having repeatedly failed to respond to three ceasefire proposals from Moscow - a 30-day halt in attacks on energy infrastructure, the Easter truce and a ceasefire ordered last month by Putin to coincide with World War Two commemorations last week. Putin also accused Ukraine of having repeatedly failed to respond to multiple ceasefire proposals from Moscow, including a 30-day halt in attacks on energy infrastructure and last month's Easter truce.
Ukraine has previously said Russian attacks continued throughout these periods. Russia has made similar claims about Ukraine. The day after Moscow agreed to stop targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Zelensky told EU leaders that "nothing had changed" and attacks continued.
"In spite of everything, we are offering the Kyiv authorities to resume the negotiations... resume direct talks, and I stress, without any preconditions," Putin said on Saturday night. Another ceasefire Putin flagged was one he ordered in April to coincide with World War Two commemorations. It ended on Saturday at midnight local time (21:00 GMT).
The last direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv happened shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago. Kyiv had rejected the unilateral, three-day ceasefire, calling it a "theatrical show". Instead, Zelensky reiterated calls for a longer truce of at least 30 days.
On Thursday - the same day the supposed ceasefire took effect - Ukraine accused Russia of more than 730 violations and said it was responding "appropriately".
Russia's defence ministry insisted the truce was being observed, before accusing Ukraine of 488 violations.
"In spite of everything, we are offering the Kyiv authorities to resume the negotiations... resume direct talks, and I stress, without any preconditions," Putin said on Saturday.
The last direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago.