Putin invites “direct” and “immediate” talks with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for “direct talks” with Ukraine, saying that they should “start without delay, early in May 15.”

“We are looking for serious talks … to remove the radical causes of the conflict and start moving towards a strong and strong peace,” said Saturday in a rare speech late at night from the Kremlin.

This came hours after the visit of European leaders – including UK Prime Minister Sir Kerr Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron – Ukraine and urge Russia to agree to a 30 -day ceasefire.

” – she warned that” an attempt to pressure us is useless. “

In his statement, Putin said that he would “not rule out” the possibility of the talks – which he proposed in the largest city in Turkey – could lead to Russia and Ukraine’s approval to “a new ceasefire, which is a new firing.”

The Russian leader said he would talk to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details.

KYIV did not respond to the call, which came on the same day as European leaders traveled to the Ukrainian capital and called on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire for a month, starting from Monday.

The leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland – part of the so -called “Al -Raghiba Alliance” – It was hosted by Ukraine President Volodimir Zelinski and participated in a joint press conference during the trip.

And they warned that “new and huge” sanctions will be imposed on energy in Russia, and the banking sector should not agree to the unconditional shooting for 30 days “in the air, in the sea and on the ground.”

They also said they discussed the proposal with Donald Trump. Sir Kiir later said to the BBC The US President was “completely clear” that their immediate shooting suggestion was “the demand that must be fulfilled.”

After the meeting – a symbolic response to Victory Day celebrations, hosted by Putin in Moscow A day ago – Zelinski thanked the collected leaders for “standing with” Ukraine.

“Today we will focus on how to build and ensure real and permanent security,” he said.

In response to the proposal, Peskov of the Kremlin said: “It is a new development. But trying to pressure us is useless.”

The Russian government media also quoted as saying that statements from Europe were “generally confronting nature instead of aiming to try to revive our relations.”

Moscow has already said that before looking at the ceasefire, the West must stop its first military assistance to Ukraine.

Putin later made his own statement, as a video showing journalists appears in a hall inside the Kremlin.

He said: “This will be the first step towards a permanent long -term peace, instead of an introduction to more than armed combat actions after the Ukrainian armed forces obtained a sequence and new employees, after their frantic occurrence and the creation of new driving sites.”

“Who needs such peace?”

Putin also accused Ukraine of failure again and repeatedly in responding to the multiple ceasefire proposals from Moscow, including Stop 30 days in the attacks on energy infrastructure And last month Easter truce.

The next day, Moscow agreed to stop targeting the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Zelinski told European Union leaders that “nothing changed” and the attacks continued.

Who was a sign of another Putin was marked in April in conjunction with celebrations in World War II. Saturday at midnight ended local time (21:00 GMT).

Kiev had refused to stop one -day shooting for three days, describing him as a “theatrical performance.” Instead, Repeat Zelensky again to a truce longer than at least 30 days.

On Thursday – on the same day I walked the supposed ceasefire – Ukraine accused Russia with more than 730 violations and said it was responding appropriately.

The Russian Ministry of Defense insisted that the truce was observed, before Ukraine was accused of 488 violations.

“Despite everything, we are providing Kiev authorities to resume negotiations … resuming direct talks, and I confirm, without any preconditions,” Putin said on Saturday.

The last direct talks were held between Moscow and Kiev shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been widely invaded for more than three years.