Selenksy Presses for Pausing Combat as of Monday
A change of pace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as Vladimir Putin makes a surprise offer for direct peace talks, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for an immediate ceasefire starting from Monday.
Zelensky views Putin's proposal for direct negotiations as a promising sign but insists on a ceasefire prior to any talks. On social media, Zelensky articulates his stance, "It's high time the Russians started considering an end to this war. And the very first step toward actually ending a war is a ceasefire."
The Ukrainian president reasons, "There's no sense in prolonging this bloody conflict even for another day. We expect Russia to confirm a full, unwavering, and reliable ceasefire commencing on Monday, May 12. If they concede, Ukraine is ready for discussions."
The West Pushing for a Prolonged Truce
The plea for a ceasefire, starting Monday, alongside significant European allies, was made on Saturday during a meeting between Zelensky and the heads of state and government of Germany, France, Britain, and Poland. They encouraged a truce lasting at least 30 days to pave the way for negotiations towards a final peace. If Russia rejected the proposition, further sanctions were threatened.
Putin's Late-Night Proposal
In apparent response, Putin made a counter-proposal late Thursday. He suggested Russia and Ukraine resume interrupted talks without conditions, with negotiations set to commence on Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul. Putin did not directly address the ceasefire call made by leaders of Western nations in his statement but emphasized the initiative was left to the Ukrainian authorities and their political patrons.
The Kremlin leader also announced an imminent conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, though the exact day remains ambiguous, possibly Sunday or Monday. The dialogue aims to resolve the root causes of the conflict and secure a durable peace. Putin indicated openness to discussing a fresh ceasefire during these discussions.
References: ntv.de, hul/rts/dpa/AFP
Enrichment Data:
On May 11, 2025, in the early hours after 1:00 am at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a counteroffer proposing direct peace talks with Ukraine. He suggested that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions and offered to start these negotiations on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Istanbul[1][2][3].
Putin's proposal came shortly after Kyiv and European leaders called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. However, Putin did not explicitly refer to that ceasefire call in his statement. Instead, he emphasized that the decision to engage in talks was now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their external backers, implying that political ambitions might be influencing their stance rather than their peoples' interests[1].
- 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, considering the ongoing discussions and negotiations in the context of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news.
- In response to the calls for a ceasefire from Ukraine and European leaders, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, expresses his readiness for these negotiations, stating that the first step towards ending the war is a ceasefire.
- The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in his counter-proposal, did not directly address the ceasefire call made by Western leaders but emphasized the decision to engage in talks is now up to the Ukrainian authorities, which might suggest political ambitions are influencing their stance.
- Amidst the proposed resumption of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the West is pushing for a prolonged truce of at least 30 days to provide a conducive environment for peace and discussions, with the threat of further sanctions if Russia rejects the proposition.
