The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, viewed this Saturday as a "positive sign" the Kremlin's willingness to consider ending the war, following the Russian leader's announcement, Vladimir Putin, about direct negotiations with Ukraine scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul.
"It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally started to consider the end of the war. The whole world has been waiting for this for a long time. And the first step to ending any war is a ceasefire," Zelensky stated in a social media message.
The Ukrainian leader added that he expects immediate confirmation from Moscow for the commencement of a complete, lasting, and verifiable ceasefire, effective from May 12.
The ceasefire initiative has the support of the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland, who visited Zelenski this Saturday in Kyiv and proposed a 30-day truce, indicating that their position was coordinated with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, with whom they held a conference call.
Kiev has welcomed this proposal, and in the words of Zelensky himself, it is ready to sit down at the table if a concrete gesture from the Kremlin occurs beforehand.
Putin proposes dialogue, but without committing to a ceasefire
From Moscow, Putin expressed a willingness to hold "serious negotiations" to address the causes of the conflict, although he avoided directly referring to the ceasefire proposal made by Ukraine and the Western powers.
"We do not rule out that during these conversations we may agree on a new ceasefire," the Russian leader stated at a press conference, leaving any immediate commitment up in the air.
The Russian presidential advisor, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that the country will send a delegation to Istanbul, the members of which will be announced later.
Despite the diplomatic gesture, the Kremlin once again blamed Kiev for the stalemate in the peace process, accusing Ukraine of sabotaging previous ceasefire initiatives while failing to take responsibility for documented violations of earlier truces.
The U.S. and Ukraine strengthen their alliance with an agreement on strategic minerals
In parallel with diplomatic efforts, Ukraine and the United States signed on May 1 an agreement for the exploitation of rare earth and strategic minerals, which are essential for the technology, energy, and defense industries.
The pact was announced by representatives from both governments in Kiev and is interpreted as a signal of long-term commitment from Washington, beyond military support.
The collaboration strengthens Ukraine's position as a strategic Western partner at a time when it seeks to reduce its reliance on supply chains controlled by Kremlin-aligned countries.
Meeting between Zelenski and Trump in Rome
On April 26th, Zelenski and Trump held a bilateral meeting in Rome after attending the funeral of Pope John Paul III.
According to reports, the Ukrainian leader took the opportunity to request active support from Washington for the ceasefire proposal, while Trump expressed doubts about Putin's true willingness for peace.
"The president Trump understood the urgency of the situation," declared a spokesperson for the Ukrainian government after the meeting. A day later, Trump himself publicly stated that "the problem is not Kiev, but Moscow," and criticized the contradictions of the Kremlin between its statements of a willingness for peace and the ongoing military attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Expectations for Istanbul
Waiting for May 15, Ukraine insists that any meaningful negotiation must be preceded by a ceasefire. Zelensky has reiterated that he will not engage in mock dialogues or processes that unnecessarily prolong violence.
“It makes no sense to continue the slaughter for even one more day”, he said, urging Russia for a clear definition before the start of the week.
The international community is closely watching the situation, aware that this could be a key opportunity to halt the conflict that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe.
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