Turkey is ready to host Ukraine-Russia talks regarding a ceasefire on May 15.
This was reported by the administration of President Recep Erdogan.
They clarified that Erdogan had previously spoken by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron. They discussed bilateral relations between the countries, as well as regional and global issues.
"A historic turning point has been reached in the war between Ukraine and Russia, and this chance should be seized. Turkey is ready to provide any support, including accepting negotiations, to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace," the Turkish leader said.
He insists on continuing cooperation to start negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow for a lasting peace and for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Erdogan stressed that the approach to these processes must be “delicate”.
The administration added that the Turkish president also spoke by phone with Putin. Recep Erdogan is pleased with the Russian leaderʼs desire to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine, which ended in 2022. He believes that this opens a "window of opportunity" for achieving peace.
New proposal for a 30-day ceasefire
On May 10, a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” took place in Kyiv, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, British and Polish Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Donald Tusk, and new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. More than 30 leaders joined online.
Following the conversation, Volodymyr Zelensky said that a complete ceasefire with the Russian Federation should begin on May 12 for at least 30 days. Ukraine and its partners demand this. According to him, the ceasefire should be comprehensive, that is, in the air, at sea, and on land, and monitoring can be ensured together with the United States.
Axios writes: Ukraine is ready for direct talks with Russia if it agrees to a 30-day ceasefire. This is what Zelensky and European leaders told Trump during a call today.
President Zelensky stressed that if Russia does not agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire, tougher sanctions should be imposed on its energy sector and banking system. He also added that the 17th package of EU sanctions is currently being prepared and coordinated with the UK, Norway and the US. This was confirmed by other foreign leaders present.
Ceasefire negotiations
Washington is negotiating with Russia and Ukraine to end the war, but a true ceasefire is still in sight. Kyiv has already agreed to halt hostilities in the Black Sea and not attack Russian energy facilities during a 30-day сeasefire. Moscow, in return, has only promised not to attack energy facilities and said it would implement agreements on the Black Sea only after Western sanctions are lifted.
The US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, including banking sanctions and new tariffs, unless there is a ceasefire and a peace deal with Ukraine. But he has not done so. But in recent weeks, US rhetoric towards Russia has begun to intensify.
Thus, Trump, when asked by a journalist about Russiaʼs concessions in the context of a peace agreement, stated that Russia would have to give up all of Ukraine.
"Russia will have to give up all of Ukraine. Because Russia wants all of Ukraine. And if I hadnʼt intervened, they would have continued to fight for all of Ukraine right now. Russia doesnʼt just need the piece it has now — it needs all of Ukraine," the US president said.
The US Vice President J.D. Vance said that Russia is demanding "too much" during peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
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