Putin proposes direct talks with Kyiv

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the conflict, an initiative welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Kyiv is willing to talk but Moscow must agree to a ceasefire.

With Russian forces grinding forward, the Kremlin chief has offered few, if any, concessions so far but has proposed talks with Ukraine in the Turkish city of Istanbul that he said would be held without preconditions and aimed at a durable peace.

"We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions," Putin said in a televised statement from the Kremlin that began after 1:30 am on Sunday. "We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul."

Zelensky said in a statement on the social media website X it was "a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war" but "the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire".

"We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — full, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet," he said.

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the conflict, said a great day was dawning for Russia and Ukraine if the "bloodbath" of the conflict could be ended.

"A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!" Trump said on Truth Social. "Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never-ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end."

Putin's proposal for direct talks with Ukraine came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face "massive" new sanctions.

Putin dismissed what he said was the attempt by some European powers to lay down "ultimatums".

Putin said he does not rule out that during his proposed talks in Turkiye, both sides will agree on "some new truces, a new ceasefire", but one that would be the first step toward a "sustainable" peace.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Ukraine had violated a three-day truce concluded on Saturday more than 14,000 times, and Kyiv's troops had made five attempts to breach Russia's southern border, the TASS state news agency reported.

Ukrainian officials said Russia on Sunday launched a drone attack on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, injuring one person in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital and damaging several private homes.

Agencies - Xinhua