The “direct” negotiations proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin between Russia and Ukraine in response to the “unconditional” ceasefire demanded by Kiev and its allies is “a first step, but not enough”, French President Emanuel Macron.

“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition,” Macron said, speaking to reporters after getting off a train in the Polish city of Pszemysl on his way back from Kiev.

He assessed that this counterproposal shows that Putin “is looking for a way forward, but always wants to buy time.”

Macron was in Kiev yesterday (Saturday) with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Poland alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to deliver an ultimatum to Moscow: accept an “unconditional and complete” 30-day ceasefire or face new “massive sanctions.”

The Europeans have assured that they are acting in consultation with the US as well.

However overnight Putin proposed to Ukraine “negotiations without preconditions” “as early as next Thursday” in Istanbul.

“It’s a way of not responding” to the ceasefire proposal, Macron assessed.

According to the French president, Putin could not simply reject the West’s proposal, so this “is a way to show that he is responding and to maintain ambiguity towards the Americans.”

“He offered something else, therefore I think we should stick with the Americans and say that the ceasefire is unconditional and then we can discuss the rest,” Macron said.

“In addition, I believe that the Ukrainians cannot accept it (Putin’s proposal) because they cannot accept parallel talks while they continue to be the target of bombardment, he insisted.