Putin: Russia ready for discussions with Ukraine

Putin: Russia ready for discussions with Ukraine

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to have “direct conversations” with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday. This is done at a time at which European leaders and the United States try to put pressure on Moscow in order to agree to a 30-day ceasefire and end the three-year conflict.

Putin's proposal for conversations without preconditions

"We would like to start immediately the next Thursday, May 15th, in Istanbul, where the talks have previously taken place and were interrupted," Putin explained in a rare late television address. He emphasized that the negotiations should take place "without any preconditions".

The intention behind the negotiations

"We are set to serious negotiations with Ukraine," continued Putin. These discussions are intended to "eliminate the roots of the conflict" and to achieve the creation of a long -term, stable peace.

reaction of the European leader

Putin's proposal came only a few hours after the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland Putin had asked to agree on a 30-day ceasefire from Monday or to expect possible "massive sanctions". This was explained by French President Emmanuel Macron during a symbolic visit in Kyiv.

support from the White House

The demand is supported by the government in Washington, who increasingly exerts pressure on Moscow after a joint phone call with President Donald Trump, as the European leaders reported.

reaction of the Kremlin to the print

Shortly after the call to the ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow said that Russia was "resistant to any kind of pressure". "Europe actually confronts us very openly," said Peskow and added that Putin supported the idea of ​​an armistice "in general", but "many questions" for the current proposal would have to be answered. He did not go into more detail which questions it is.

future discussions with Turkey

on Sunday Putin said that he would talk to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the implementation of discussions with Kiev.

This article is continuously updated.