Russian president alerts ‘constructive’ outlook on bilateral peace talks after Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has indicated that he’s open to the prospect of direct talks with Ukraine.
Putin informed Russian state TV on Monday that he had a “constructive perspective in the direction of any peace initiatives” and that he hoped Kyiv would “really feel the identical manner”.
Moscow and Kyiv have held no bilateral talks because the rapid aftermath of Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Nonetheless, america has been elevating the strain on them to comply with a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Putin’s feedback, following the expiry of a 30-hour Easter truce – which either side accused the opposite of violating – meant he was open to direct talks.
“When the president mentioned that it was potential to debate the difficulty of not hanging civilian targets, together with bilaterally, the president had in thoughts negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian facet,” mentioned Peskov, quoted by Russia’s Interfax information company.
Whereas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didn’t reply on to Putin’s proposal, he signalled in his nightly video tackle that Ukraine was “prepared for any dialog” a couple of ceasefire that might cease assaults on civilians.
Now, after Easter, the entire world can clearly see the actual difficulty — the actual motive why the hostilities proceed. Russia is the supply of this conflict. It’s from Moscow that an actual order should come for the Russian military to stop hearth. And if there is no such thing as a such agency Russian order for… pic.twitter.com/jS9cTiRQqd
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2025
On Sunday, Zelenskyy had proposed a follow-up to the truce that might “stop any strikes utilizing long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a interval of a minimum of 30 days”.
Putin mentioned Russia would “analyse all the pieces and take the corresponding choices” however questioned how it might work, as he accused Ukraine of utilizing civilian buildings corresponding to eating places and universities for navy functions.
Zelenskyy pressed Putin additional on Monday, saying Ukraine stood by its supply – “on the very least, to not strike civilian infrastructure” – and that he anticipated a “clear reply” from Moscow.
The potential of direct talks comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to stroll away from efforts to dealer a ceasefire until progress is made. On the similar time, he continued on Monday to specific hope {that a} deal is shut and will even be reached this week.
Negotiators from the US, Ukraine, United Kingdom and France are on account of meet in London on Wednesday for an additional spherical of talks on ending the conflict, Zelenskyy mentioned.
The discussions are a follow-up to an identical assembly in Paris final week.
At that assembly, Europe expressed its pink traces over Ukraine to the US, French International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned on Tuesday.
He additionally prompt in an interview with francinfo radio that the Easter truce had been a advertising operation designed by Putin and geared toward defusing Trump’s rising impatience over Russia’s failure to agree a ceasefire.
Amid the push for an finish to the preventing, by which Trump seems prepared to just accept lots of Moscow’s calls for and good points, Russia is keen to press residence its navy benefit on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s air power reported one other in a single day barrage on Tuesday, with Russia launching 54 drones.
In the meantime, Russian media mentioned the navy had retaken the Gornal St Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery, one of many final positions held by Ukrainian troops within the Kursk area.
