President Volodimir Zelenski of Ukraine responded cautiously on Sunday morning to Russia’s proposal for direct conversations, calling it a “optimistic signal”, however insisting that President Vladimir V. Putin should first conform to a direct ceasefire.
Mr. Zelenski’s feedback got here hours after Mr Putin rejected the cessation of fireside and as an alternative recommended direct conversations between representatives of the 2 nations to be held on Might 15 in Istanbul. The Ukrainian chief didn’t instantly cope with these particulars, however stated in a social media publication that “expects Russia to substantiate the cessation of fireside”, which is able to start on Monday.
Forwards and backwards between Mr. Zelenski and Mr. Putin got here after the leaders of France, the UK, Germany and Poland visited Kiev and introduced a deadline on Monday for Russia to simply accept a 30-day fireplace termination or to face extra sanctions. European leaders who spoke on the cellphone from Kiev on Saturday with President Trump stated the USA would additionally impose sanctions on Russia if Putin disagreed with a truce.
After the efforts to finish the struggle in Ukraine three months in the past, the Trump administration has come to line with Russia in a vote within the United Nations group for the struggle and resumed extra western diplomatic ties with Moscow. He left present financial sanctions, however didn’t intensify the stress with extra restrictions, even when Mr Putin confirmed a small signal of withdrawal within the struggle. In distinction, Ukraine agreed in March with an American proposal for unconditional cessation of fireside.
At a press convention on a late evening on Saturday, Mr. Putin responded to the European deadline, requesting direct conversations with Ukraine, which might begin in Istanbul within the coming days, however he didn’t settle for the proposal for termination of fireside. Earlier, the Kremlin spokesman stated Russia would solely accomplish that if Western governments cease supplying weapons to Ukraine.
G -N Trump praised diplomatic efforts within the social media publication in a single day, saying it’s “a probably nice day for Russia and Ukraine!” However the president didn’t give any indications of how he appears at G -N -Putin’s response or whether or not it might trigger new US sanctions on Russia.
“Consider the a whole lot of hundreds of lives that can be saved, as this by no means ends the” bloodshed “, we hope, it ends,” he writes. “This can be model new and a lot better, world. I’ll proceed to work with either side to ensure it is going to occur. “
President Emmanuel Macron of France known as Russia’s response inadequate, saying that he left Ukraine that it was a “first step, however not sufficient.” Macron stated that G -n -Putin stopped together with his counter -profile from direct conversations and “desires to purchase time.”
European leaders who visited Kiev on Saturday had been clear that solely with an unconditional cessation of the hearth Moscow would keep away from falling underneath extra sanctions.
The Kremlin had unilaterally introduced a 3 -day truce final week across the celebration of the anniversary of the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. The navy navy has confirmed that the majority lengthy -distance strikes have stopped throughout this era, however the combat in opposition to the entrance is finished with out a pause.
Russia has resumed its lengthy -term drone assaults in opposition to Ukraine in a single day on Sunday. From midnight to mid -morning on Sunday, Russian forces fired 108 Iranian Shaheed drones, Ukrainian air forces stated, putting air alarms in a number of cities.
