Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled a willingness to enter into direct negotiations with Ukraine on Monday, his first public suggestion of doing so since the conflict erupted at the beginning of the large-scale war. The statement, made during a broadcast on Russian state television, followed increased pressure on Moscow worldwide—to include by the United States—of using a diplomatic way out of the crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, indirectly reacting to Putin's proposal, reiterated Ukraine's desire to seek means towards a ceasefire, especially to halt attacks on civilian populations.
Ongoing Attacks Undermine Peace Prospects
In the meantime, while diplomatic discussion continues, military action on the ground shows no sign of slowing down. Despite an earlier announcement of a temporary ceasefire during the Easter holidays, Russian forces have launched drone and glide bomb attacks on Ukrainian cities Odessa and Zaporizhia. The recent attacks killed one civilian, an old woman, and injured at least 27 others, four of whom were children. These actions discredit Moscow's commitment to seeking peace and raise doubts about the sincerity of recent diplomatic initiatives.
International Pressure Grows in London Talks
At the same time, senior representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United States will convene to debate a possible blueprint for ending the war. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated that the meeting could become pivotal in whether the Trump administration is still active in mediation efforts. While the White House shows its willingness to facilitate peace, the simultaneous heightening of aggression makes any development on ceasefire agreements more challenging.
Kremlin's Stance: Cynicism and Strategic Ambiguity
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov challenged the imminence of progress from upcoming talks. Telling reporters, he explained that concrete outcomes from peace talks aren't expected in the near future. Further, the Kremlin played down the likelihood of negotiating with Zelensky's ideas based on halting putting strikes on civilian targets, as an apparent difference in mutual expectations.
Trump Expects Soon End to War
Former US President Donald Trump put a new spin on the developing situation. On his social media site 'Truth,' he said that Ukraine and Russia are close to signing a peace deal that would bring an end to the war within a week. Trump also indicated that a trade relationship between the two countries could be part of the deal. His special representative, Steve Witkoff, will reportedly go to Russia to talk about a potential deal, but official terms are still indefinite.
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