A new diplomatic fever has been sparked by Putin‘s proposal to hold direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Turkey next Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that Moscow must first agree to a ceasefire “and then we are ready to meet.”

“It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider the possibility of ending the war. The whole planet has been waiting for this for a long time. And the first step to a real end to the war is a ceasefire. There is no reason for the bloodshed to continue every day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting and credible – starting on Monday, and Ukraine is ready for a meeting,” Zelensky wrote in X.

Almost at the same time, Vladimir Putin‘s adviser, Yuri Usakov, said that the talks proposed by the Kremlin to Turkey should take into account the results of the 2022 bipartite negotiations and the situation “on the ground.”

“Taking into account the actual situation, of course,” was Usakov’s typical quote after a question.

In response to the question of who would represent Russia in the negotiations, he said: “The president will give the order and then we will announce it.”

The President will ask the President and then we will announce it.

Putin’s rebuff to the European ultimatum

The European Union‘s ultimatum to Russia’s ultimatum to the European Council is a response to the European Union’s ultimatum.

Vladimir Putin has responded to the ultimatum from European leaders and Donald Trump for an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine- on Monday – with a midnight (2 a.m. Russian time) press conference as the Russian president proposed starting direct negotiations with Ukraine on Thursday in Turkey.

“We propose that Kiev resume direct negotiations without preconditions and start on May 15 in Istanbul, Turkey,” the Russian president said at an emergency press conference, announcing that he plans to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the coming hours.

Putin, who spoke for 18 minutes without taking any questions after leaving reporters waiting for seven hours, said it was “not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kiev. Nevertheless, we propose that Kiev resume direct negotiations without preconditions. Now it is up to Ukraine.”

The development was greeted with enthusiasm by US President Donald Trump, who in a post on Truth Social called it a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine.”

“Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved when this endless “bloodbath” is hopefully over. It will be a whole new and much better WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that happens. The US wants to focus instead on rebuilding and trade. A GREAT week ahead!” wrote Trump.

Putin’s message to Europeans

Vladimir Putin in his address also said that some European countries continue to address Russia with ultimatums, but he believes that constructive relations with Europe will eventually be restored.

He also claimed that Kiev has repeatedly violated previous cease-fire agreements, including a 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure and a recent three-day cease-fire in May, during which Ukrainian forces reportedly attempted multiple attacks, which Russia says were repelled with heavy Ukrainian casualties.

He said the two sides may be able to agree on a “real ceasefire” during the proposed negotiations in Constantinople.