MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said early on Sunday that his country had pledged to resume in-person talks with Kiev about the end of the war and proposed that the next debate would begin on May 15th in Turkey.
He said he plans to speak to Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, hoping to hold talks in Istanbul next week. He said there will be no prerequisites on the Russian side.
Putin said Ukraine had previously left such talks and violated the ceasefire agreement, but both sides have been blamed for attacks in the past three ceasefires. He used a language that expressed his desire for serious consultation with long-term consequences, including long-term peace.
Putin’s comments came on the last day of the three-day ceasefire declared by Russia. And it came shortly after British, French, Poland and German leaders threatened to increase sanctions on the country if they didn’t accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz have called for an unconditional ceasefire in a news briefing that includes more than 30 countries that have pledged to strengthen Ukraine. They also joined Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelenki on Saturday at a memorial to fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine.
Leaders said the proposal to launch a ceasefire on Monday was supported by US President Donald Trump, who explained in a phone call earlier in the day.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ceasefire aims to force a halt of battles on land, sea and air. The show of the power of world leaders came in an effort to persuade Moscow to agree to an armistice that allows peace negotiations to end the three-year war.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, said on Saturday X that such a ceasefire will “begin the process of ending Europe’s largest and longest war since World War II.”
Kellogg has registered a quote from Trump “Stop now” – to strengthen his own statement in support of a 30-day ceasefire.
Putin has previously said he hopes to withdraw from four regions to Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zapolizia and Herson, which Russia illegally annexed shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Last week, Putin said Russia had enough strength and resources to lead the war in Ukraine to a logical conclusion, but he hoped that it would not have to use nuclear weapons.
The Associated Press contributed.
