By Parrot Newspaper 
Putin Calls for Talks with Ukraine as European Leaders Demand 30-Day Ceasefire
By Parrot News Foreign Desk
Kyiv | Sunday, May 11, 2025
In a surprising turn late Saturday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukraine to resume direct peace talks—just hours after a powerful lineup of European leaders visited Kyiv to push for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
Speaking in a rare late-night address from the Kremlin, Putin said Russia was ready for “serious negotiations” and proposed Istanbul as the venue for the talks, which he suggested could begin as early as May 15.
“This could be the first real step toward long-term peace—not just a break before more weapons arrive on the battlefield,” Putin told journalists in a televised statement. “Who needs peace like that?”
The Kremlin leader added that he would discuss the logistics with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday. However, Kyiv has yet to publicly respond to the offer.
Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stood alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the Ukrainian capital. The four leaders, who call themselves a “coalition of the willing,” stood shoulder to shoulder with President Volodymyr Zelensky, pushing a united message: Russia must accept a 30-day ceasefire “in the air, at sea, and on land.”
“If Russia refuses, we will impose massive new sanctions—especially targeting energy and banking,” Macron warned.
Sir Keir, speaking to the BBC afterward, said U.S. President Donald Trump had been briefed and gave his backing to the ceasefire demand, calling it “non-negotiable.”
Zelensky, visibly bolstered by the show of support, thanked the visiting leaders. “Today we focused on how to secure real and lasting peace—not just for Ukraine, but for Europe,” he said.
The Kremlin’s reaction? Not warm.
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed the ceasefire push as “pressure tactics” and said such efforts were “useless.” He also claimed the proposals sounded “more confrontational than constructive.”
Moscow has repeatedly stated that Western military aid to Ukraine must stop before any truce can be considered.
This isn’t the first time a ceasefire has been floated—or failed. Putin pointed to several previous efforts, including an Easter truce last month and a brief World War II memorial ceasefire that expired just hours ago. Kyiv labeled those attempts “theatrical shows” meant more for headlines than real peace.
Fighting did momentarily ease during the latest ceasefire, but both sides accused each other of hundreds of violations. Ukraine claimed over 730 Russian attacks during the pause, while Russia reported 488 Ukrainian infractions.
Despite the tense backdrop, Putin struck a diplomatic tone in his new proposal.
“We are ready to talk. No preconditions. Let’s sit down and end this war,” he said.
The last time Russia and Ukraine held direct peace talks was back in 2022, shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion. Since then, efforts have stalled amid fierce fighting, mounting casualties, and increasing global pressure.
Whether this latest invitation signals a genuine shift or just another political maneuver remains to be seen.