On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism regarding Russia's recent offer for direct peace talks. However, he emphasized the necessity of implementing a full, temporary ceasefire before any negotiations can commence. In a post on X, Zelenskyy referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin's counter-offer to engage in talks without a ceasefire as a positive development, highlighting that the global community has been anticipating such discussions for an extended period.
Zelenskyy reiterated that the initial step toward genuinely ending the ongoing conflict must be a ceasefire. His assertion comes amidst a backdrop of renewed hostilities, as Russia resumed mass drone attacks on Ukraine early Sunday after a self-imposed three-day pause lapsed. According to reports from Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched a total of 108 attack drones and simulator drones from six different directions. In response, Ukrainian forces successfully shot down 60 of these drones, while 41 simulator drones were thwarted from reaching their objectives due to effective Ukrainian countermeasures.
In the escalating rhetoric, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of breaching Moscow's three-day ceasefire agreement over 14,000 times. Conversely, Ukraine has countered these claims, asserting that Russia itself has repeatedly violated the truce, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister labeling the ceasefire as a "farce." Notably, Ukraine did not consent to the ceasefire unilaterally declared by Russia from May 8-10, which has fueled ongoing tensions between the two nations.
In a bold move, President Zelenskyy proposed the initiation of a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday, proclaiming that there is no justification for continuing the violence 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,” he stated, highlighting Ukraine's willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.
In response to Zelenskyy's ceasefire proposal, President Putin effectively dismissed the offer, suggesting instead to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, without any preconditions. He mentioned that a ceasefire could potentially be agreed upon during these discussions. Putin's counteroffer follows a unified stance from leaders of four major European nations, who threatened to intensify pressure on Russia if it does not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed on Saturday.
In light of the ongoing situation, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked on social media that it could be a "potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine." He expressed his commitment to facilitating dialogue between both parties, with a focus on rebuilding and trade. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized Putin's proposal as "very serious," underscoring a genuine intention to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He articulated that the goals of the upcoming talks are clear: to address the fundamental causes of the conflict while safeguarding the interests of the Russian Federation.
In a related development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan communicated with France's Emmanuel Macron, expressing Turkey's readiness to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Erdogan described the current moment as a "historic turning point" in the ongoing efforts to resolve the war, as stated by the Turkish presidential communications office.
