Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly urged Moscow to agree to a full, 30-day ceasefire, expressing Kyiv’s readiness to engage in direct peace negotiations. Speaking at a joint press conference during his official visit to South Africa on April 24, 2025, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is prepared to meet Russian representatives for truce talks, as global pressure mounts for an end to the three-year-long conflict.
This appeal came after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed resuming direct talks in Istanbul on May 15, but stopped short of committing to a ceasefire during a late-night press briefing at the Kremlin. Putin insisted that the negotiations resume without any preconditions and said he would consult Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to facilitate the meeting.
Zelensky, addressing the nation via social media, welcomed the possibility of renewed dialogue but stressed that a ceasefire was an essential starting point. “There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day,” he stated. “We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — full, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12. Ukraine is ready to meet.”
The Ukrainian leader described Russia’s openness to dialogue as a “positive sign,” suggesting that Moscow may finally be considering steps toward ending the war. “The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelensky added.
Support for an immediate truce has also come from Ukraine’s Western allies. During a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland—backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—called on Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire beginning May 12. The coalition insists that only such a measure can pave the way for a diplomatic resolution to what has become Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.
Direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have not taken place since early in the war, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Since then, communication has been limited to prisoner exchanges and the recovery of soldiers’ remains.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high. On Sunday, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of launching a massive drone assault involving over 100 Shahed drones and decoys shortly after a previous 72-hour ceasefire expired at midnight on Saturday. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 60 of the drones. Kyiv had not recorded drone activity since Thursday, during the truce, but accused Moscow of numerous violations. In turn, Russia also claimed Ukraine had failed to observe the ceasefire.
Putin, while open to talks, criticized the West’s stance. He dismissed what he called European “ultimatums” and accused Western powers of fueling the war through anti-Russian rhetoric. French President Emmanuel Macron, after returning from Ukraine, claimed Putin’s proposal was a tactic to “buy time,” though U.S. President Trump described the moment as a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine,” promising to assist both sides in ending the conflict.
The coming days will be crucial as the world watches to see whether Russia formally agrees to the 30-day ceasefire, and whether the proposed peace talks in Istanbul will proceed as planned.
