Putin is serious about Ukraine peace talks, says Kremlin

Source: RTE.ie | Original Published At: 2025-05-12 09:04:24 UTC

Key Points

• Kremlin confirms Putin's seriousness about Ukraine peace talks in Turkey
• Zelensky demands Putin's personal attendance at talks
• European powers threaten new sanctions over ceasefire non-compliance
• Ukraine reports ongoing Russian attacks despite ceasefire proposal
• BRICS countries mentioned as supportive of Putin's diplomatic approach

The Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious about trying to find peace at talks he has proposed in Turkey, but his spokesman said he could say no more about the talks after Ukraine demanded the Kremlin chief attend.

Mr Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war, and, after US President Donald Trump publicly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept.

Mr Zelensky said he would, but that Mr Putin should attend in person.

“We are committed to a serious search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referencing the failed 2022 talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Peskov said many leaders had welcomed Mr 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 Mr Trump, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as well as from countries in the BRICS group and from countries in the former Soviet Union.

Mr Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that Mr Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face “massive” new sanctions.

Germany’s government said that European countries will start preparing new sanctions on Russia unless the Kremlin by the end today 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,” Mr Peskov said when asked about the German and other European warnings.

Russia has been “completely ignoring” a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and its allies and is attacking “all along” the front line, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga has said.

“Russians are completely ignoring the offer of a full and durable ceasefire starting on May 12. They continue to attack Ukrainian positions all along the frontline,” he wrote on X after an online meeting with Ukraine’s Western allies.

Mr Zelensky said late last night that the ceasefire offer remained on the table and that he was still waiting for a response from Moscow, but that Ukrainian forces would respond in kind if Russia flouted it.

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in France in 2019

The air force said in its morning readout that Ukraine came under attack overnight from 108 long-range combat drones starting from 11pm (9pm Irish time), an hour before the ceasefire was due to kick in. Attacks of this kind unfold over the course of hours as drones fly much slower than missiles.

“As of 08.30am (6am Irish time), it was confirmed that 55 Shahed attack (drones)… were shot down in the east, north, south and centre of the country,” it said, adding that an additional 30 had been lost on radars and caused no damage.

A woman was injured by a strike drone in the small port city of Bilhorod-Dnistrovsk in the Black Sea region of Odesa overnight, the regional governor said.

Russia also launched guided bombs at targets in the northeastern Kharkiv region and the northern Sumy region, the air force said.

The Ukrainian railway company said a Russian drone attacked a civilian freight train in the east.

“The truce proposals are being ignored, hostile attacks on railway infrastructure and rolling stock continue,” it wrote in a statement on Telegram.

The train’s driver received a shrapnel wound in his leg after the train was struck by a drone, it said. “His life is currently no longer in danger,” it added.

The state of play on the sprawling front line was not immediately clear.

The military has not yet given a readout that specifically addresses the period from midnight. Russia and Ukraine are both trying to show US President Donald Trump that they are working towards his objective of reaching a rapid peace in Ukraine, while trying to make the other look like the spoiler to his efforts.

Read more: Zelensky ready to meet Putin in Turkey on Thursday

Kyiv is desperate to unlock more of the US military backing it received from Mr Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.

Moscow senses an opportunity to get relief from a barrage of economic sanctions and engage with the world’s biggest economy.

Europe meanwhile is doing its best to preserve good relations with Mr Trump despite him imposing tariffs, hoping it can persuade him to swing more forcefully behind Ukraine’s cause, which they see as central to the continent’s security.

Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky have not met since December 2019 and make no secret of their contempt for each other.