Vladimir Putin proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine, marking the first such offer since the war’s early days. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was eager to discuss halting attacks on civilian targets.
Zelenskiy didn’t directly respond to Putin’s proposal. However, he emphasized in his nightly video address that Ukraine “was ready for any conversation” about a ceasefire that would stop strikes on civilians.
The United States pressures both leaders. The U.S. has threatened to walk away from peace efforts unless there’s progress.
Russia and Ukraine have stated they are open to further ceasefires after the 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow. Each side accused the other of violating it.
Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine will participate in talks with the U.S. and European countries on Wednesday in London. The discussions are a follow-up to a Paris meeting. The U.S. and European states discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war at the Paris meeting last week.
Putin spoke to a Russian state TV reporter and said fighting had resumed after the Easter ceasefire. He announced the ceasefire unilaterally on Saturday. He added that Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv.
He said, “We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side.” He was quoted later by Interfax news agency.
There have been no direct talks between the two sides since the early weeks after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Ukraine stood by its proposal to end attacks on civilian targets. They are ready for any form of discussion to achieve this. Previously, the U.S. and Ukraine had framed this as a 30-day ceasefire.
He said, “Ukraine maintains its proposal not to strike at the very least civilian targets. And we are expecting a clear response from Moscow. We are ready for any conversation about how to achieve this.”
He stated that the London talks “have a primary task: to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This must be the starting point.”
Zelenskiy had earlier on Monday said an unconditional ceasefire would be “followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace”.
Washington has stated that it would welcome an extension of the weekend truce. Zelenskiy said continued Russian attacks during the Easter ceasefire demonstrated Moscow’s intent to prolong the war.
Zelenskiy also said that Ukraine’s forces were instructed to continue to mirror the Russian army’s actions.
He said on X, “The nature of Ukraine’s actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both said on Friday that Washington could abandon the peace talks without progress within days. Trump struck a more optimistic note Sunday. He said that “hopefully” the two sides would make a deal “this week”.
Russia demands that Ukraine cede all the land Putin claims to have annexed and accept permanent neutrality. Ukraine says that would amount to surrender and leave it undefended if Moscow attacks again.
Peskov told reporters, “President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results.”
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