Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that he expects Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday and that Kyiv is “ready” for direct talks with Moscow, as proposed by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
“It is pointless to continue the killing, even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a complete, lasting, and reliable ceasefire starting tomorrow, 12 May, and Ukraine is ready to engage,” Zelenskyy stated on social media.
The Ukrainian president also expressed a view that Russia showing signs of considering an end to the conflict, which began in February 2022, is a “positive sign.”
“The whole world has been waiting for this for a very long time. The very first step to truly ending a war is a ceasefire,” he added.
On Sunday, Vladimir Putin suggested “direct” and “unconditional” talks between Russia and Ukraine to begin on Thursday in Istanbul, delaying any possibility of a 30-day ceasefire demanded by Kyiv’s allies.
The Russian President has not ruled out the possibility of discussing a ceasefire with Kyiv, but stressed that the talks should address “the underlying causes of the conflict.”
Moscow launched its large-scale offensive in February 2022, claiming it aimed to “denazify” Ukraine, whose military currently holds about 20% of its territory, and to oppose its moves towards Western integration and NATO expansion near its borders.
