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The Kremlin said it would think about a 30-day ceasefire proposal suggested by the US and Europe
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Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday with the backing of President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Mr Trump.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “We have to think about that. These are new developments. We have our own position,” he said.
He also said: “We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more”.
Sir Keir Starmer told reporters that the EU leaders were “calling Putin out”, saying: “If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it.”
Sir Keir said the sanctions threat was the result of the “greatest unity we have ever had” among other countries.
Sir Keir Starmer has said that European allies “together with the US” are “calling Putin out”, as the pressure increases on Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire.
Speaking from Kyiv, the prime minister said that allies will “ramp up sanctions” if Russian president Vladimir Putin “turns his back on peace”, as he and allies backed plans for a 30-day ceasefire.
Sir Keir and his Ukrainian, French, German and Polish counterparts spoke to US President Donald Trump on Saturday to update him on their progress on the so-called coalition of the willing.
It comes after Mr Trump promised “further sanctions” from the US and “partners” if any ceasefire is struck and then not respected.
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Russia will think about a 30-day ceasefire proposal by Europe and backed by the US, the Kremlin’s spokesperson said.
Europe and the US threatened Russian president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Mr Trump.
Dmitry Peskov said: “We have to think about that. These are new developments. We have our own position,” he said.
Turkey is ready to undertake the duty of observe a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, its foreign minister said during a “coalition of the willing” call with Kyiv’s partners on Saturday, a Turkish foreign ministry source told news agency Reuters.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine met in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss a peace deal. They agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on Monday with the backing of US President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined the coalition of the willing call and emphasised Turkey’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the Turkish foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
Mr Fidan voiced Ankara’s support for the efforts for the unconditional ceasefire and added that Turkey was ready to undertake the duty for observing the ceasefire in Ukraine if it is established, the source also said.
Nato member Turkey has maintained cordial ties with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided it with military help, while opposing sanctions on Russia.
In March, Turkey’s defence ministry said that it could contribute to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is declared. Last month, Ukrainian, British, French and Turkish military representatives met in Turkey to discuss Black Sea security after a possible ceasefire is agreed between Ukraine and Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared a three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine, to coincide with a May 9 military parade on Moscow’s Red Square.
But for bloodied Ukrainian soldiers limping into a field hospital, their wounds testified that the ceasefire was not being respected, Alina Smutko reports.
One soldier, who gave his name as Stanislav, sat in the field hospital on Friday night cradling his left arm. It was wrapped in gauze bandage, and blood was soaking through.
“There hasn’t been any ceasefire,” said Stanislav, who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol.
“Shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all.”
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As well as issuing a joint call for a 30-day full ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, the UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky were photographed paying their respects at the wall of remembrance for fallen Ukrainian soldiers on Saturday.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he and US president Donald Trump now share “a common view”, and back “an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Zelensky said his conversation with Mr Trump on Saturday was “positive and concrete”, adding: “We share a common view: an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire is needed for at least 30 days. We propose it begin on Monday, May 12. We are waiting for Putin’s response.”
He added: “This proposal has been on the table since the talks in Saudi Arabia, when it was first put forward by the United States. Once the ceasefire begins, there will be the best moment for diplomacy. Ukraine is ready for meetings and negotiations in any format”.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy broke with protocol by not employing his own interpreter in meetings with Russian president Vladimir Putin, NBC news has reported.
Steve Witkoff, who is negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, reportedly met with Mr Putin in Moscow for several hours on 11 February, 13 March, and 11 April and “used their translators”, Western officials told the US broadcaster.
Mr Witkoff does not speak Russian and former US ambassadors told NBC that, by using Mr Putin’s interpreters, he would not be able to verify the interpretation.
However the White House responded to the reports saying that Mr Witkoff “abides by all security protocols in coordination with the State department”.
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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Europe and Trump issue ultimatum to Putin over ceasefire – The Independent
