The first day of the Russian-Russian War of 2019: Putin and Zelenskyy met in Moscow, and the Turkish president tweeted that Ukraine had “grown up”
Putin and Zelenskyy met for the first time in 2019. After repeated unsuccessful calls for a personal meeting with the Russian leader early on in the war, and following the Kremlin’s decision in September 2022 to illegally annex four regions of Ukraine, Zelenskyy enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had become impossible.
Zelenskyy said that it was a positive sign that the Russians are considering ending the war but only after a ceasefire.
“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” In the email, Trump asked: “have the meeting, now!”
The French President, the British Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, and the Polish Prime Minister all met with Zelenskyy on Saturday and issued a call for a truce starting Monday. The European Union and Trump supported the plan.
Macron said Sunday that Putin’s offer of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a first step, but not enough,” signaling continued Western skepticism toward Moscow’s intentions.
The Putin proposal is very serious and will lead to a peaceful solution, said the spokesman for the Kremlin.
Without directly mentioning Moscow’s proposal, Trump said in a social media post several hours after Putin’s overnight remarks that it was “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!”
The Kremlin stated that the Turkish leader fully supported the proposal and that he was ready to provide a platform for the talks.
In a separate phone call to Macron on Sunday, Erdogan said that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the war, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office.
Putin and the Kremlin: a new phase of diplomatic maneuvering in the 21-nucleus war in Ukraine? The case of Ukranian forces
Zelenskyy said he was waiting to see what the response would be from the Western allies if Putin did not abide by the Monday truce.
“We hear from partners that if Putin refuses to accept a ceasefire, they’re going to strengthen sanctions against him.” We will see,” he said.
If that sounds vague it’s because it is. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the only one that says he will be in Turkey on Thursday.
Russia launched 108 attack drones and simulator drones from six different directions, Ukraine’s air force said. It said 61 drones were shot down and another 41 simulator drones failed to reach their targets.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine had violated Moscow’s three-day ceasefire more than a thousand times. Russia has been accused of violating its own truce by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, who said it was a farce.
A Russian official said Ukrainian forces had launched a missile at the town in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukranian. Alexander Khinshtein mentioned on Telegram that the strike seriously damaged a hotel in Rylsk and wounded three people.
MOSCOW and KYIV — Efforts to halt, or perhaps even end, the war in Ukraine hit a new phase this week — when it appears at least someone from Russia and someone else from Ukraine will gather in Turkey for their first direct talks since the early months of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
“I have so many meetings, but I was thinking about flying over there,” Trump said at the White House. “Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey.”
“Military operations are ongoing, a war is happening, and we are offering to return to negotiations,” Putin said, adding that Kyiv, not Moscow, had broken off previous talks.
In Kremlin speak, that has long meant Ukraine’s demilitarization and an end to Kyiv’s NATO ambitions, among other demands. Preconditions, by any other name.
Was it more of what critics say is Russia’s foot-dragging aimed at drawing out negotiations while its forces make gains on the Ukrainian battlefield? There are reasons to think so.
The latest diplomatic maneuvering began in late April when Putin unilaterally announced a three-day ceasefire to mark World War II Victory Day celebrations in Russia last week.
For all of the “great television” Trump could bring, the American leader also expressed hope that Europe’s deadliest war since World War II will finally end.