"Zelenski responds to Putin's peace talks Ukrainian leader wants full ceasefire before direct negotiations with Moscow"

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FILE PHOTO: Vladimir Zelensky. © Thierry Monasse / Getty Images
Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelenski responded to the Russian president Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct peace talks, repeating his request that all engagement must be preceded by a comprehensive ceasefire.However, Moscow stated that the process of the solution had to start with talks that could be followed by a ceasefire – not the another way around.
On Sunday Putin proposed to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine on 15 May in Istanbul, Turkey ‘without any preconditions’.

He noted that Russia had never refused dialog and expressed hope that Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan would facilitate the meeting.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov described Putin's proposal as ‘serious offer’ aimed at achieving lasting peace through crucial negotiations.In consequence to the offer, Zelenski turned to Telegram, saying:

"It is simply a good sign that the Russians are yet reasoning about ending the war.

Everyone in the planet has been waiting for this for a long time.

And the first step to the actual end of all war is the ceasefire.”"We anticipate Russia to confirm the ceasefire – full, durable and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet" – he added.Andrei Jermak, head of Zelenski's office, reiterated his comments, stating:

"First a 30-day ceasefire and then everything else.

Russia cannot mask its desire to proceed the war with verbal constructions."Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharova powerfully criticized Kiev's response, saying:

"On the basis of the reaction... they did not carefully read the transcription of the Russian President's message or the hundreds of comments of planet political figures and media publications that support it".Putin's proposal is ‘absolutely clear’ – emphasised Zacharowa.

"First negotiations on the root causes of the [conflict] and then we can talk about the ceasefire".This happened after the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the UK and the EU proposed ‘full and unconditional’ 30-day ceasefire, arguing that "creates a space for diplomacy", while noting that the US has supported this initiative.According to Psykov Putin supports the thought of ceasefire ‘general’but “There are many issues”, that stay unsolved.

Moscow had previously expressed concerns that stopping fighting would let Kiev to regroup his battered troops.

She besides insisted that all western arms shipments to Ukraine should be suspended for the duration of the ceasefire.



Translated by Google Translator

source:https://www.rt.com/russia/617375-zelensky-responds-putin-peace-talks/

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