Breaking! AFP, May 11 - Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Kiev will hold direct talks with Moscow in Istanbul on May 15, but Russia must first commit to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday.
Comment: This will be the first time in over three years for both sides to hold direct talks. After the previous negotiation in Istanbul was interrupted, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated continuously over the past three years, with both sides paying heavy prices and countless families being torn apart, leading to the continuous deterioration of regional security situation. Now, restarting direct talks is of great significance, which is a key step for both parties to solve conflicts through diplomatic channels, showing the world the hope of ending the war.
From the Russian side, Putin's proposal to restart negotiations unconditionally shows a positive attitude towards seeking peace. However, regarding Ukraine's proposed ceasefire condition that Russia must commit to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, Russia stated it would consider this, but also has its own stance. For instance, Kremlin spokesman Peskov emphasized that the U.S. and Europe must stop delivering more military equipment to Ukraine, which shows Russia's concern that Ukraine might enhance its strength during the ceasefire period with external military assistance, thus affecting subsequent negotiations and the trend of the situation. Zelenskyy insisted that a 30-day ceasefire could create a relatively peaceful and stable atmosphere for negotiations, allowing both sides' representatives to calmly discuss solutions to the conflict.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831822236675272/
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