Russian president alerts ‘optimistic’ 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 “optimistic perspective in the direction of any peace initiatives” and that he hoped Kyiv would “really feel the identical method”.
Moscow and Kyiv have held no bilateral talks because the rapid aftermath of Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Nevertheless, the US has been elevating the stress on them to conform to 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 doable to debate the problem 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 few ceasefire that might cease assaults on civilians.
Now, after Easter, the entire world can clearly see the true difficulty — the true purpose why the hostilities proceed. Russia is the supply of this struggle. It’s from Moscow that an actual order should come for the Russian military to stop fireplace. And if there isn’t 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 at the very least 30 days”.
Putin mentioned Russia would “analyse all the things and take the corresponding choices” however questioned how it could work, as he accused Ukraine of utilizing civilian buildings akin to eating places and universities for army functions.
Zelenskyy pressed Putin additional on Monday, saying Ukraine stood by its provide – “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 except progress is made. On the similar time, he continued on Monday to precise hope {that a} deal is shut and will even be reached this week.
Negotiators from the US, Ukraine, United Kingdom and France are attributable to meet in London on Wednesday for an additional spherical of talks on ending the struggle, Zelenskyy mentioned.
The discussions are a follow-up to an identical assembly in Paris final week.
At that assembly, Europe expressed its pink strains 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 and marketing 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, through which Trump seems prepared to just accept a lot of Moscow’s calls for and positive aspects, Russia is keen to press house its army 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 army had retaken the Gornal St Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery, one of many final positions held by Ukrainian troops within the Kursk area.
