A Ceasefire from Monday? Zelensky Willing to Talk, But Conditions Apply
Kyiv leadership aggressively demands a ceasefire as of Monday
In a positive twist, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky views the Russian proposal for direct peace talks as a step in the right direction. However, Zelensky insists on a ceasefire taking effect from Monday as the first step towards meaningful peace. He shared his thoughts on social media, stating, "A positive sign that the Russians have finally started considering an end to the war. The very beginning of ending a war is a ceasefire."
On behalf of Ukraine, Zelensky affirmed the nation's readiness for dialogue, as long as Moscow commits to a full, lasting, and dependable ceasefire starting from May 12. While the demand for a ceasefire from Monday was made collectively by Ukraine and crucial European allies over the weekend, Putin remained silent on this particular point.
Putin's Agenda: Talks with Erdogan and Future Negotiations with Kyiv
In addition to proposing direct negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul on May 15, Putin also announced a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss eliminating the roots of the conflict and working toward a lasting peace. Putin did not clarify whether the meeting will take place on Sunday or Monday.
In a counteroffer to the demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Putin suggested the resumption of talks with Ukraine without preconditions. He emphasized that these negotiations aim to address the core causes of the conflict and establish a long-lasting peace [1].
Source: ntv.de, hul/rts/dpa/AFP
Some Interesting Facts:
- The last direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul at the start of the conflict, but no ceasefire was achieved [1].
- Putin's proposal for talks with Kyiv in Istanbul is aimed at resuming negotiations that had been interrupted in 2022 [1].
[1] Enrichment Data: Overall, both sides seem to be open to negotiations, but key differences persist. While Ukraine and European allies are pushing for a swift and unconditional ceasefire, Russia remains focused on resuming talks without preconditions.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in light of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the context of politics and general news. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky negotiates for a ceasefire with Moscow, with him insistently demanding that it takes effect from Monday as the first step towards meaningful peace. In an unusual development, Putin has proposed talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but has suggested the resumption of negotiations without preconditions instead of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, highlighting his focus on addressing the core causes of the conflict and establishing a long-lasting peace. Kyiv, along with crucial European allies, collectively demanded a ceasefire from Monday over the weekend, but Putin remained silent on this particular point.
