A few hours after the presence of Mertz, Macron, Tusk and Starmer in Kiev and the message of Europeans to Russia (30 -day truce are coming new rigorous penalties), Vladimir Putin suggested the “direct” and “without prerequisite” negotiations between Russia and Ukraine May 15 in Constantinople.
In this way, Vladimir Putin essentially rejected the West’s ultimatum for a full and unconditional 30 -day ceasefire in Ukraine.
“It was not Russia that interrupted the negotiations in 2022. It was Kiev. Nevertheless, we suggest in Kiev to repeat direct negotiations without prerequisites, “Putin said in press representatives in the Kremlin.
“We propose at the beginning of Kiev’s repetition of negotiations from Thursday in Constantinople,” the Kremlin’s strong man said, informing that he would talk to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the coming hours.
He stressed that talks should focus on the “deeper causes of the conflict” that has been going on for more than three years, but did not rule out that they could lead to a truce.
Russian attack on Kyiv
At the same time, Ukrainian anti -aircraft units are trying to repel Russian air attack on Kiev, the city mayor Vitali Klitsko said.
The attack was launched for a few hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested direct talks with Ukraine.