Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday cautiously embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct peace talks, but insisted that a full and unconditional cease-fire must take effect before any negotiations begin.
Zelenskyy’s remarks came just hours after Putin dismissed a Western-backed cease-fire plan and instead called for face-to-face talks with Kyiv – suggesting a truce could be shaped during those talks rather than precede them.
“We see it as a positive signal that Russia is now considering peace,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “But any real end to war begins with a cease-fire.” He reiterated Ukraine’s readiness for a 30-day truce beginning Monday, May 12.
Despite Putin’s overture to resume dialogue in Istanbul this Thursday “without preconditions,” the Kremlin’s position has fueled skepticism. Western leaders and Kyiv fear the proposal could be a ploy to stall and regroup, rather than a genuine peace effort.
Putin said a cease-fire could be negotiated, but stressed it must lead to “lasting peace,” not a temporary lull for Ukraine to rebuild its forces.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish PM Donald Tusk met Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday. Backed by the EU and U.S. President Donald Trump, they called for an unconditional 30-day cease-fire starting Monday – or face increased sanctions on Moscow.
Macron dismissed Putin’s offer as "a first step, but not enough," warning, “An unconditional cease-fire is not negotiated; it’s declared.”
Former President Trump, who once vowed to swiftly end the war, posted on social media hours after Putin’s statement, calling it “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine.”
“Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never-ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully comes to an end,” Trump wrote. He urged focus on “Rebuilding and Trade,” calling the coming week a “BIG” one.
Meanwhile, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signaled full support for Putin’s plan and offered Istanbul as the venue for the talks. Erdogan also spoke with Macron, saying the conflict had reached a “historic turning point.”
But as diplomacy played out, war raged on.
Early Sunday, Russia resumed large-scale drone attacks, ending its self-declared three-day pause. Ukraine reported intercepting 60 of 108 drones launched from six directions. Another 41 malfunctioned before impact.
Russia accused Ukraine of violating the cease-fire over 14,000 times. Ukraine, which never agreed to the May 8–10 truce, dismissed the claim, calling Moscow’s brief pause “a farce.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called Putin’s offer “very serious,” aimed at solving the “root causes” of the conflict, and accused Ukraine of undermining efforts for a peaceful resolution.
Zelenskyy, undeterred, called on Moscow to “end the killing, even for a single day,” repeating Ukraine’s readiness to meet “tomorrow, if Russia confirms a lasting, reliable cease-fire.”
