Is Russia finally ready to talk peace with Ukraine? Putin proposes ‘negotiations’ through bilateral talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to have interaction in direct peace talks with Ukraine, a shift in his stance after years of restricted dialogue, experiences information company Reuters.
Speaking to Russian state TV on Monday, Putin proposed bilateral discussions for the primary time in years, responding to strain from Washington to present a readiness for peace in Ukraine. He additionally indicated that Russia was open to extra ceasefires, following a brief Easter truce, which lasted simply 30 hours.
Putin, in his assertion, reaffirmed Russia’s openness to peace initiatives and known as for dialogue, notably across the concern of not placing civilian targets.
According to Interfax information company, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned, “When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side.”
The proposed talks come amid continued battle, regardless of a shock Easter ceasefire declared by Putin on Saturday. Both sides accused one another of violating the truce, with Ukraine dismissing it as a mere publicity stunt. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv can be sending a delegation to London on Wednesday to meet with the United States and different Western allies, persevering with efforts to discover a decision to the warfare that has lasted greater than three years.
The London talks will comply with a gathering in Paris final week the place the US and European international locations mentioned potential options to finish the continued battle. Zelenskiy, nevertheless, has remained sceptical of any instant breakthrough with Russia, particularly after experiences of Russian assaults through the ceasefire. He known as for a 30-day truce targeted on civilian targets however condemned continued Russian aggression as proof that Moscow seeks to extend the warfare.
However, Zelenskyy didn’t acknowledge Putin’s proposal for bilateral talks in his personal statements, which targeted on Ukraine’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in London. “Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States — we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Zelenskyy additionally strengthened Ukraine’s stance on the warfare, stating that the nation’s army actions would mirror these of Russia. “The nature of Ukraine’s actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words,” he mentioned on X.
The ongoing state of affairs is being monitored by world leaders, together with US President Donald Trump, who has expressed cautious optimism about the potential of a peace deal. Trump urged that “hopefully” the 2 sides would attain an settlement “this week”.
Despite the truce, tensions stay excessive, with Ukrainian forces reporting practically 3,000 violations of the ceasefire, notably alongside the Pokrovsk part of the frontline. Russia’s defence ministry additionally claimed that Ukrainian forces fired on Russian positions 444 instances and launched greater than 900 drone assaults, leading to civilian casualties.