Putin refuses pressure and asks for a direct agreement with Ukraine

Russian leader rejects European ultimatum for ceasefire and proposes direct conversations with Kiev, keeping firm posture against sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected an ultimatum of European leaders to accept a ceasefire with Ukraine or face new sanctions, but proposed direct negotiations with Kiev later this week, the British newspaper reported The Guardian This Saturday (11).

Putin stated that the possibility of a truce agreement can be discussed during conversations, according to the agency Xinhua. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine expects Russia to confirm a “total and lasting” ceasefire from May 12 and is ready to start dialogues, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Zelensky classified the Russian proposal to resume negotiations as a “positive sign”, reported Xinhua.

UK leaders, France, Germany and Poland would have given Putin until Monday to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, under threat of more sanctions and sending weapons to Ukraine, in a measure described by the media as a “ultimatum”, according to The Guardian.

“We are proposing that Kiev resumes direct negotiations without pre-conditioning,” Putin told reporters, suggesting that dialogues take place on Thursday in Istanbul, as reported by Al Jazera. The Russian leader also said he would talk to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to articulate negotiations.

In the US, former President Donald Trump commented on the proposal, saying he will continue to work “with both sides” to end the conflict. “A potentially large day for Russia and Ukraine!” He wrote on his platform Truth Socialaccording to the Barrons.

Russia resumes diplomatic initiative after historical celebrations

After celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Russia turned its attention to the conflict in Ukraine, explained Cui Heng, expert of China National Institute for Sco International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, Global Times.

Previously, Moscow sought negotiations with the US, unsuccessfully. Now, with the creation of the USA-Uct Reconstruction Fund, Russia signals a willingness to dialogue directly with Kiev, assuming the initiative at the negotiations, analyzed Cui.

Despite the opening of both sides, the main obstacle is the previous conditions: Russia insists on negotiations without demand, while Ukraine requires no additional territory to be assigned, including partially occupied regions, according to media reports.

France signals possible sending troops, but territorial impasse

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that Paris argues with allies to militarily support Ukraine, including the possible sending of troops, without detailing the scope of the operation, according to the Reuters.

“We are working on the presence and strategy of partner countries. There is coordination between the French, British and Ukrainian bosses,” Macron told the The Parisianadding that “the essential thing is to have troops in Ukraine.”

For Cui Heng, a temporary truce could make room to prepare new trading rounds and relieve internal pressures. However, the central impasse remains: Russia’s security demands versus the Ukrainian territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, the world is waiting to see if direct dialogue in Istanbul can pave a path to peace – or if it will be another chapter in a conflict that has dragged on for more than two years.

With information from Global Times*