Ukraine calls for ceasefire as Putin rejects peace proposal
The U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, has urged Russia to accept Ukraine's proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. "As President Donald Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!!" he wrote.
"Even the Prime Minister of New Zealand gets it. As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!! An unconditional 30 day ceasefire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way around" the U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, wrote on the X platform.
The Kremlin remains defiant. Putin does not want peace
On the other hand, the Prime Minister of New Zealand wrote, "New Zealand stands with our partners around the world in supporting a just and lasting peace in Ukraine – starting with a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire"
On Saturday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that it has been agreed, that starting Monday, a full and unconditional ceasefire will begin.
It will last for 30 days," Volodymyr Zelensky said after a meeting in Kyiv with the leaders of Poland, France, Germany, and the UK. "If Russia rejects the peace proposal, it will be clear who is for peace and who is for war. (...) We are ready to intensify sanctions," added Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
There was also a warning issued to Russia—if it does not agree to the ceasefire— the EU countries and the U.S. will impose "massive" and "coordinated" sanctions on Moscow.
In response to the call on the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Russian leader held a press conference at the Kremlin. He was nearly an hour late. One of the topics discussed was the war in Ukraine. The Russian leader proposed "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday, May 15.
He stated that he has repeatedly suggested steps towards a ceasefire. However, it's important to remember that Moscow has never followed through with its agreements and—despite announcing a ceasefire—continued to carry out attacks. This was the case during the Easter ceasefire, among others.
U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to these events by announcing the intensification of actions for peace between Russia and Ukraine. "A big week is coming," he declared on the Truth Social platform, emphasising the importance of the upcoming peace talks.
Moscow does not want a ceasefire
Since Sunday morning, the Kremlin has been conducting a disinformation operation. Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire first, followed by talks.
Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian politician, told the TASS agency that Zelensky makes statements about the ceasefire to start rearming Ukraine.
Deputy Leonid Slutsky believes that Putin's proposal to resume negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul is "a real step towards achieving peace."
He stated that Putin has skillfully outmaneuvered the "European hawks" and Zelensky on the international stage, who set an ultimatum regarding the 30-day ceasefire.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Kyiv "misread Putin's statement transcript."
She stressed that Putin made it clear the causes of the conflict must be addressed before any discussion about a ceasefire can take place.
