Ukraine warfare dwell: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin requires talks however says Russia should conform to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

Regardless of Vladimir Putin’s name for so-called peace talks, Russia on Sunday launched a drone assault on Kyiv and different elements of Ukraine, injuring one individual within the area surrounding the capital and damaging a number of personal properties, Ukrainian officers stated.

The assault started round 2am this morning, with Russian forces launching 108 drones (together with decoys) from a number of instructions, Ukraine’s air power stated.

Ukrainian air defence techniques had shot down 60 drones launched throughout the jap, northern, southern, and central areas of Ukraine as of 09.30am, the nation’s air power stated.

One other 41 drones had been reportedly misplaced from radar however didn’t trigger injury.

There have been no rapid reviews of any casualties however Ukraine’s air power stated that the Sumy area – which borders on Russia’s Kursk area – suffered on account of the Russian assault, with out elaboration.

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has responded to Vladimir Putin’s proposal in a submit on X this morning.

He wrote:

In Kyiv and alongside President Trump, we made a transparent proposal: an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday. President Zelenskyy dedicated with out setting any situation. We now count on an equally clear response from Russia.

There might be no negotiations whereas weapons are talking. There might be no dialogue if, on the similar time, civilians are being bombed. A ceasefire is required now, in order that talks can start. For peace.

Macron, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, has stated beforehand that any peace deal should “not be a surrender of Ukraine” and should be backed up by safety ensures.

Vladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv got here hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to fulfill Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As my colleague Shaun Walker notes on this story, the European leaders informed the Russian president to enroll to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face elevated sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.

They stated the ceasefire proposal was supported by Donald Trump, whom that they had briefed over the telephone earlier within the day.

France’s president Emmanuel Macron stated that the US would take the lead in monitoring the proposed ceasefire, with help from European international locations, and threatened “massive sanctions … prepared and coordinated, between Europeans and Americans” ought to Russia violate the truce.

At a joint press convention, the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer stated the leaders had been demanding “an unconditional ceasefire, rejecting Putin’s conditions, and [are] clear that if he turns his back on peace, we will respond”.

Putin rejected the requires a ceasefire, however stated he was prepared for direct negotiations with Ukraine.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has simply welcomed Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday, however stated his workforce is anticipating Moscow to conform to a “lasting” ceasefire beginning tomorrow.

In a submit on X, Zelenskyy, with out responding explicitly to Putin’s invitation for talks in Turkey, wrote:

It’s a constructive signal that the Russians have lastly begun to contemplate ending the warfare.

All the world has been ready for this for a really very long time. And the very first step in actually ending any warfare is a ceasefire. There isn’t a level in persevering with the killing even for a single day.

We count on Russia to verify a ceasefire – full, lasting, and dependable – beginning tomorrow, Could twelfth, and Ukraine is able to meet.

Welcome again to our dwell protection of Russia’s warfare on Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has proposed direct talks with Ukraine on 15 Could in Istanbul to realize what he claims might be “the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace” if sure circumstances are met.

In a uncommon televised late-night tackle from the Kremlin, the Russian president stated he needs to handle what he calls “the root causes of the conflict”, which is able to doubtless embody calls for that Ukraine won’t ever be a part of Nato.

“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” the Russian chief stated.

Putin stated that he would converse to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan afterward Sunday about facilitating the talks.

“Our proposal, as they say, is on the table. The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples.”

Ukraine has not but commented on Putin’s proposal however Donald Trump, whom Kyiv is reliant upon for army assist, stated this might be a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine”, as he vows to “continue to work with both sides”.

Putin put ahead the late evening proposal after European leaders threatened Moscow with contemporary sanctions if Russia didn’t adjust to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning tomorrow. He dismissed what he stated was the try by some European powers to put down “ultimatums”.

Moscow demanded yesterday that the west should cease arming Kyiv earlier than any ceasefire can begin, which would go away Ukraine in an especially susceptible place and certain result in extra Russian advances on the battlefield.

Analysts say that Putin shouldn’t be severe about peace talks and won’t conform to a ceasefire.

They see his newest proposal as a means for him to seem severe about peace to Washington however drive an additional wedge between the Trump administration, which needs to carry a fast finish to the warfare, and Kyiv, which is able to look rigid if it rejects maximalist positions demanded by Moscow the Kremlin knew it might not settle for.