President Putin on Sunday announced readiness for “direct talks” with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, “without preconditions” and aimed at eliminating “the root causes of the conflict” to achieve “a long term, lasting peace.”
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia proposed a three-day ceasefire between May 8-10.
Shortly before Easter, marked this year on April 20, Putin declared a unilateral 30-hour truce.
In March, after talks with the US in Riyadh, Russia agreed to a 30-day moratorium to strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, calling for the same from Ukraine.
How Did Ukraine React?
Refused to meet in Istanbul unless Russia agrees to Zelensky’s 30-day ceasefire idea starting May 12.
Violated the Victory Day ceasefire 14,043 times (according to Russia's MOD), threatened and tried to disrupt celebrations in Moscow.
Rejected the Easter truce outright.
Violated the energy strike moratorium 136 times.
Zelensky’s Ceasefire Trap?
Rejecting all previous Russian overtures, Zelensky and his hawkish European patrons are trying to ensnare Russia in a 30-day ceasefire deal, which provides no restrictions on Western arms deliveries, and could give Ukraine a breather to regroup and rearm.
No Peace Allowed?
In 2022, a comprehensive draft peace agreement was already reached, only to be sabotaged by the West. Putin later lamented that the deal was thrown into the “dustbin of history.”
The same year, Zelensky signed a law prohibiting himself from negotiating with Russia.
The question now is – will Zelensky and the West accept Russia’s terms, or will this sad history of sabotaging peace repeat itself?