Zelensky Says Ukraine Ready for Talks If Russia Confirms Ceasefire
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kiev is prepared for direct negotiations with Moscow if Russia confirms a full and reliable ceasefire starting Monday.
Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine is prepared to begin direct talks with Russia once a "full, lasting, and reliable" ceasefire is confirmed.
“There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day," Zelensky wrote on X.
"We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12th. And Ukraine is ready to meet.”
He called it a positive development that Russia is beginning to consider ending the war.
“The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time," he said.
"And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire.”
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, later emphasized on Telegram that a 30-day ceasefire must precede further steps.
"Russia should not disguise its desire to continue the war under verbal constructions," Yermak said.
He stated that confirming a ceasefire would demonstrate Moscow’s readiness to end the conflict.
In a separate development, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a night-time press conference in Moscow that he proposes resuming direct peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday.
Putin also said he plans to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “tomorrow” to ask him to host the talks.
Turkey has played a mediating role in the conflict since it began in February 2022.
It hosted talks in Istanbul in March that year aimed at reaching a resolution to the war, which is now entering its fourth year.
