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Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine on 15 May Zelensky says Russia considering end to war a 'positive sign'
(about 4 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Ukraine to take part in "direct talks" on 15 May, hours after European leaders urged Moscow to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russia's offer of "direct talks" by saying it was a "positive sign" Moscow was considering ending the war - but reiterated calls for a ceasefire to begin on Monday.
In a rare televised late-night address from the Kremlin, Putin said Russia was seeking "serious negotiations" aimed at "moving towards a lasting, strong peace". His comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukraine to take part in "serious negotiations" on Thursday in a late-night address.
Earlier on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv with counterparts from France, Germany and Poland to put pressure on Russia to commit to an unconditional ceasefire, starting Monday. But the Ukrainian president said: "We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire - complete, lasting and credible - starting tomorrow, 12 May, and Ukraine is ready to meet."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said Moscow would "have to think this through" - but warned that "trying to pressure us is quite useless". Western powers called for a 30-day pause in fighting to begin on Monday, after European leaders spearheading the so-called "coalition of the willing" met in Kyiv on Saturday.
In his own statement, Putin said he could "not rule out" the possibility that the talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing "a new truce". But he did not address calls for a 30-day ceasefire directly. A key aide to Zelensky said there must be a ceasefire before direct talks over ending the war - which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - could take place.
"First a ceasefire for 30 days, then everything else," Andriy Yermak said. "Russia must not camouflage its desire to continue the war with verbal contortions."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier responded to the call from European allies and the US, saying Moscow would "have to think this through" - but warned that "trying to pressure us is quite useless".
Putin said in his own statement that he could "not rule out" the possibility that the talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing "a new truce" - but did not address the calls for a 30-day ceasefire directly.
The Russian leader said the proposed talks should be held in the Turkish city of Istanbul, as they have been before, and that he would speak to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details.The Russian leader said the proposed talks should be held in the Turkish city of Istanbul, as they have been before, and that he would speak to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details.
Kyiv has not responded to the invitation. Zelensky wrote in a social media post on Sunday morning: "It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.
The Ukrainian capital played host on Saturday to Sir Keir, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk, who form part of the "coalition of the willing" - a group of countries committed to supporting Ukraine. "The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire.
Alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they took part in a joint news conference. "There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day."
The leaders 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". Vladimir Putin said the proposed talks on Thursday would be "the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace"
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Poland's PM Donald Tusk joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) in Kyiv on Saturday The Ukrainian president played host on Saturday to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk, who later called Donald Trump to discuss their plan.
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". 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".
Appearing at a news conference with 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".
The four leaders - who form a significant part of the "coalition of the willing" group, formed to reinforce any eventual peace agreement with security guarantees, including the possibility of placing troops in Ukraine.
After the meeting, Zelensky thanked the assembled leaders for "standing with" Ukraine.After the meeting, Zelensky thanked the assembled leaders for "standing with" Ukraine.
"Today we will focus on how to build and guarantee real and lasting security," he said."Today we will focus on how to build and guarantee real and lasting security," he said.
Responding to the proposal, the Kremlin's Peskov said: "It is a new development. But trying to pressure us is quite useless." Russian state media also quoted Peskov as saying that statements from Europe were "generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations".
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 Russia could consider a ceasefire, the West must first halt its military aid to Ukraine.
Moscow has previously said that before considering a ceasefire, the West must first halt its military aid to Ukraine. (L-R) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Poland's PM Donald Tusk in Kyiv
Putin later made his own statement, with video showing journalists assembled in a hall inside the Kremlin.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?"
Trump described Putin's announcement as a "potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine", in a post on Truth Social.Trump described Putin's announcement as a "potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine", in a post on Truth Social.
"It will be a whole new, and much better world," he said, adding that he would "continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens"."It will be a whole new, and much better world," he said, adding that he would "continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens".
Meanwhile, 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. 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.
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).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).
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. Kyiv had rejected the unilateral, three-day ceasefire, calling it a "theatrical show". The Kyiv meeting was a symbolic response to the more than 20 leaders who joined Putin in Moscow a day earlier for the World War Two event.
While it saw a decrease in fighting, each side accused the other of breaches. While the latest ceasefire saw a decrease in fighting, each side accused the other of breaches.
On Thursday - the same day the supposed ceasefire took effect - Ukraine accused Russia of more than 730 violations and said it was responding "appropriately".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.Russia's defence ministry insisted the truce was being observed, before accusing Ukraine of 488 violations.
Overnight into Sunday, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said Russia launched over 100 drones - slightly less than the average number immediately before the start of the ceasefire.
It also said there were 161 clashes along the front lines.
"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."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 in 2022, the year Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.The last direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place in 2022, the year Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Additional reporting by Vitaliy Shevchenko