Zelensky wants meeting with Putin

KYIV, May 13 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday, the latest move in an exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the US-led peace effort. Zelensky said that he still hopes for a ceasefire with Russia starting Monday after US President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer — to hold direct talks in Turkey on Thursday.

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead. It was not clear if Zelensky was conditioning his presence in Turkey on the Monday ceasefire meeting, and there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on whether Putin would go.

In 2022, the war's early months, Zelensky repeatedly called for a personal meeting with the Russian president but was rebuffed, and eventually enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had become impossible. "We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in (Turkey) on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Sunday.

Ukraine, allies insist on ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday and issued a coordinated call for a 30-day truce starting Monday. The leaders pledged tougher sanctions on Russia if Putin did not accept the proposal. Putin, in remarks to the media overnight, effectively rejected the offer and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday instead "without preconditions." He said a ceasefire might be agreed on during the negotiations — but stressed that the Kremlin needs a truce that would lead to a "lasting peace" instead of one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize more men into its armed forces.

Moscow pushes peace talks offer

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments aired by Russian state TV on Sunday, called Putin's proposal "very serious," aimed at eliminating "the root causes of the conflict," and said it "confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution." Without directly mentioning Moscow's proposal, Trump said in a social media post several hours after Putin's overnight remarks that it was "a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!" Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin said. According to the Kremlin's readout of the phone call, Erdogan "fully supported the Russian proposal" and was ready to provide a platform for the talks and assistance in organizing them.

Questions over next steps

Zelensky, in his nightly video address on Sunday, said he still expected a ceasefire to take hold on Monday, and that he was still waiting for a "clear answer" from Russia about it. "We have repeatedly heard from partners that they are ready to strengthen sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses a ceasefire. We will see," he said. He reiterated he would be present in Turkey on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking for a comment.

Source: manilatimes.net