Ukraine expects full ceasefire from today
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he expects a full ceasefire with Russia starting on Monday. He also confirmed his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Istanbul, following encouragement from US President Donald Trump to accept Moscow’s proposal for direct peace talks.
Ceasefire before negotiations
Zelenskyy, who had been cautious in his initial response, reiterated that a full, temporary ceasefire must be in place before any direct negotiations with Russia can proceed. “The very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” he wrote on X, referencing his proposal for a 30-day unconditional truce starting Monday.
“There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire- full, lasting, and reliable- starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” Zelensky stated.
Putin’s counterproposal: talks without conditions
In a late-night address, Putin proposed restarting direct negotiations “without preconditions” in Istanbul on May 15th. He rejected the idea of a pre-agreed ceasefire, suggesting instead that terms for peace might be established during the negotiations. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov later clarified that the talks would take into account the 2022 peace proposal and current territorial realities, implying Kyiv would need to accept neutrality and Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories.
Trump’s intervention
US President Donald Trump urged Zelensky to accept Putin’s proposal immediately, stating on Truth Social: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.”
He added that the talks would at least reveal the intentions of both sides, enabling European leaders and the US to “move forward accordingly.”
European leaders demand ceasefire first
Meanwhile, European leaders meeting in Kyiv, including the heads of France, Germany, Poland, and the UK, called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated that “ceasefire first, then talks” is essential for meaningful negotiation. The leaders warned of “massive” new sanctions on Moscow if the Kremlin refuses the truce.
A political chess game
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi described the situation as a “political chess game,” noting that Zelenskyy’s decision puts pressure on Putin either way. “If Putin does not show up, it illustrates what Ukraine has said all along- that Russia is not serious about stopping the war,” Basravi said.
Turkey’s role as mediator
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his support for the talks, calling it a “historic turning point.” As a NATO member and mediator, Turkey holds a key geopolitical position and has hosted previous negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Next steps
As Monday’s ceasefire deadline approaches, the world watches to see if Moscow will respond to Kyiv’s proposal. With direct talks in Istanbul on the horizon, the potential for a breakthrough- or further conflict- remains uncertain.
Also read: Putin hints at peace talks but wants major concessions
