On Monday, the 21st of April, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine for the first time since the start of the war. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not respond directly to Putin’s proposal, he stressed in a nightly video address that Ukraine “is ready for any talks” on a ceasefire that would end the attacks on civilians, according to Reuters.
Both leaders are feeling pressure from the US, which has threatened to abandon peace efforts if progress is not made. Russia and Ukraine have said they are open to further ceasefire measures following a 30-hour Easter truce announced by Moscow at the weekend. Both sides accused the other of violating it.
Speaking to a Russian state television reporter, Putin said that fighting had resumed after the Easter truce, which he unilaterally announced on Saturday. He said Moscow was open to all peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv.
“We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that the representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way,” Putin told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin.
“When the president said it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president was talking about talks and discussions with the Ukrainian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters, as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SINCE THE FIRST WEEKS OF FEBRUARY 2022, WHEN RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.
Zelenskyy said in a nightly video address that Ukraine supports the proposal to end attacks on civilian targets and is ready for any discussions to achieve this. Previously, the US and Ukraine had formulated it as a 30-day ceasefire.
“Ukraine stands by its proposal to not carry out attacks at least against civilian targets. And we expect a clear response from Moscow,” he said. “We are ready for any talks on how to achieve this.”
Ukraine will hold talks with the US and European countries in London on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said.
He said that the “main objective” of the London talks is to reach an unconditional ceasefire. This should be the starting point.”
Zelenskyy said earlier on Monday that an unconditional ceasefire “would be followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace”.
Washington has said it would welcome an extension of the ceasefire agreed at the weekend. Zelenskyy said that continued Russian attacks during the Easter truce showed that Moscow wanted to prolong the war.
ZELENSKYY ALSO SAID THAT UKRAINIAN FORCES HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REFLECT THE ACTIONS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
“The nature of Ukraine’s actions will remain symmetrical: the ceasefire will be met with a ceasefire and Russian strikes will be met with our own defensive strikes. Actions always speak louder than words,” he said on X.
Both US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington could suspend peace talks if no progress is made within days.
Trump was more optimistic on Sunday, saying that “hopefully” the two sides would reach an agreement “this week”.
Russia’s demands include Ukraine giving up all territories the Kremlin considers annexed and agreeing to permanent neutrality. Ukraine says this would mean capitulation and leave it defenceless if Moscow attacks again.
“President Putin and the Russian side remain open to finding a peaceful solution. We continue to work with the US side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results,” Peskov told reporters.