Kenya, May 11 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested starting direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. He wants these talks to happen without any conditions.
This offer comes after European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for an immediate, 30-day ceasefire without any conditions. Zelenskyy has welcomed the idea of talks, but he insists that a ceasefire must happen first to stop the fighting completely.
Zelenskyy said, "It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to think about ending the war. The whole world has been waiting for this for a long time. The first step to truly end any war is a ceasefire.
" There is no reason to keep killing even for one more day. We expect Russia to agree to a ceasefire - one that is complete, lasting, and reliable - starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet."
Zelenskyy's statement is a response to Putin's proposal for peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, which does not include a ceasefire first.
This goes against what European leaders have said, which is to start a 30-day ceasefire on May 12, with support from the U.S., as reported by NPR.
The call for a ceasefire is in line with Zelenskyy's ongoing view since 2022, where Ukraine has always wanted an immediate stop to the fighting, while Putin has asked for things like Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of territories.
Zelenskyy's hope that Russia is ready for peace might be too soon, as Putin rejected the ceasefire request on May 10, according to The Guardian, and instead suggested talks.
This could be a strategy to delay things, which has happened in past negotiations like the 2022 Istanbul talks that did not lead to real peace.
They want to meet again in Istanbul because a ceasefire would help Ukraine strengthen its defenses. They want the peace talks to truly end the conflict, not just pause it.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.