Macron lukewarm on Putin peace talks offer
Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev the opportunity to restart direct negotiations, which have been on hold since 2022, 'without any preconditions.' Putin stressed that Moscow is ready to start 'without delay,' and suggested meeting on May 15 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that his country is ready to host the talks, telling Macron in a phone call that this could be 'a historic turning point.'
Macron, however, insisted that the process should start with a 'full and unconditional' 30-day ceasefire, referring to a proposal made by the leaders of Ukraine, the UK, and EU the day before, and which is reportedly supported by the US.
'It is a first step, but it is not enough… It's a way of not responding. We must not give up,' Macron stated, claiming that Putin's offer is a delaying tactic. 'It shows that he is looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time.'
Macron also claimed that 'an unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition.'
'We must stand firm with the Americans to say that the ceasefire is unconditional and then we can discuss the rest,' he said.
US President Donald Trump has welcomed Putin's proposal, writing on Truth Social hours after the announcement that this is 'a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine,' with 'a BIG week upcoming!'
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said Putin's proposal is a 'positive sign' and that he is 'ready to meet' for talks. He insisted, however, that the first step should be a ceasefire, which he suggested should begin on May 12.
Moscow previously warned that Ukraine could use a prolonged pause in the fighting without a formal agreement to regroup and rearm. In his address, Putin said Kiev has violated three ceasefires proposed by Moscow: A 30-day US-brokered halt on strikes against energy infrastructure that expired last month, an unconditional Easter truce, and a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire.
Istanbul hosted the last direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in 2022, shortly after the escalation of the conflict. Moscow said that while the sides were making progress at the time and had worked out a preliminary peace treaty, the process was derailed by Kiev's Western backers. The agreement eventually fell through, and Zelensky later issued a decree banning peace talks with Putin.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Poland cautions Ukraine over anti-corruption crackdown
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has cautioned Ukraine that halting the fight against corruption would be 'the worst' step the government could take, amid a growing backlash over Kiev's efforts to rein in two key watchdogs. On Tuesday, Ukraine's parliament passed legislation granting the Prosecutor General, a political appointee, direct oversight over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The law has triggered mass protests at home and a storm of criticism in the West, forcing Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky to take steps to restore the independence of the two organizations. Speaking to Polsat earlier this week, Sikorski stated that Zelensky had been warned 'the worst thing he could do now is to turn away from the fight against corruption.' The Polish Foreign Ministry later echoed his statement on its official X account. The government's attempt to directly control NABU and SAPO has sparked protests in Kiev, Odessa, Dnepr, Lviv and other cities. The country's Western supporters, including the EU and G7 nations, have sharply criticized the move, warning that it undermines Ukraine's commitment to fighting corruption and jeopardizes its path toward European integration. On Thursday, Zelensky submitted a bill to the legislature, the Rada, aimed at restoring the agencies' independence by scaling back the prosecutor general's powers. He insisted the proposal would preserve the independence of anti-corruption institutions while ensuring the strength of the law enforcement system. The Rada is expected to review the proposed measure on July 31. However, FT reported on Friday, citing sources, that up to 70 MPs from Zelensky's Servant of the People party are hesitant to support the bill, fearing it could lead to politically motivated prosecutions against them. NABU and SAPO were created following the US-backed 2014 coup in Kiev as part of sweeping reforms to align Ukraine with Western governance standards. Their establishment was a key condition set by Brussels and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for financial assistance. Both agencies have led high-profile investigations, including some involving figures close to Zelensky.
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Russia Today
Vucic says no to EU bargain over Moscow
Belgrade will not impose sanctions on Russia under any circumstances, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday, rejecting remarks by his government minister, who suggested the country could align with EU policy in exchange for faster membership talks. However, Belgrade will not betray its principles in pursuit of some short-term gains, Vucic added. According to the president, Serbia would continue to seek good relations with both Russia and the EU as this policy 'has proven to be correct so far.' 'It is the policy of the independent and sovereign state of Serbia,' he said. The president also called EU Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic's words 'careless' and maintained that some media at home and abroad were just too quick to jump to conclusions. 'Serbia will not impose sanctions on the Russian Federation,' Vucic stated. Speaking to the Austrian news agency APA earlier this week, Starovic said that Belgrade opposes sanctions against Russia because they 'would not affect Russia at all' but would hit the Serbian economy 'on a massive scale.' He maintained that Serbia would be ready to fully comply with Brussels' policies once 'EU membership is in sight.' Serbia remains one of the few European countries that has refused to impose sanctions on Russia or openly side with Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Vucic had previously stated that the EU has pressured Belgrade to abandon its neutral stance and sever ties with Moscow. In May, Vucic became one of the few European leaders to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. The Serbian president, along with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, visited Russia despite facing significant pressure from Brussels. During the visit, he reaffirmed Belgrade's commitment to long-term energy cooperation with Russia following a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Russia Today
Austria may abandon neutrality for NATO
Austria should be ready to discuss its potential membership in NATO, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has said. She acknowledged, however, that joining is unlikely to gain major public or parliamentary support at this stage. In an interview with Die Welt published on Saturday, Meinl-Reisinger spoke about what she described as 'an increasingly aggressive Russia,' which she claims is reluctant to conclude a peace deal with Ukraine. Moscow has maintained it is open to dialogue, but insisted that any settlement must take into account its key security concerns, including that Kiev agree to permanently stay out of NATO. According to Meinl-Reisinger, 'neutrality alone does not protect us.' She explained that Austria should invest not only in 'defense capabilities,' but also in military partnerships. 'I am fundamentally very open to a public debate' about Austria's future in this field, she said, adding: 'While there is currently no majority in parliament or among the population for NATO membership, such a debate can nevertheless be very fruitful.' DETAILS TO FOLLOW
