 "After Zelenskyy's 'Putin should attend in Person' remark, Kremlin says serious about talks but offers no details")
The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin is genuinely committed to pursuing peace through direct talks with Ukraine but declined to provide further details after Ukraine insisted that the Russian leader attend the talks in person.
On Sunday, Putin proposed direct talks in Turkey aimed at ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump publicly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept, but Zelenskyy said he would but that Putin should attend in person.
“We are committed to a serious search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement,” Reuters quoted Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, referencing the failed 2022 talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Peskov said many leaders had welcomed Putin’s approach.
“This approach, aimed precisely at finding a real diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, eliminating the root causes of the conflict and establishing lasting peace, has met with understanding and support from the leaders of many countries.”
He cited positive reactions from US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as well as from countries in the BRICS group and from countries in the former Soviet Union.
Before reporters could ask any more questions about the proposed talks, Peskov said: “That’s all. I’ve said everything I could about this story.”
Putin and Zelenskyy have not met since December 2019 and make no secret of their contempt for each other.
Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face “massive” new sanctions.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGermany’s government said on Monday that European countries will start preparing new sanctions on Russia unless the Kremlin by the end of Monday starts abiding by a 30-day ceasefire.
“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You can’t use such language with Russia,” Peskov said when asked about the German and other European warnings.
With inputs from agencies
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