Putin’s talks proposal has drawn global support: Kremlin

MOSCOW: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks to settle the war in Ukraine had found support among world leaders.

Russia intends to find ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement of the war, Peskov told reporters, adding that he was unable to say any more on the subject of peace talks.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy guardedly responded to a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin of rapid direct talks aimed at ending the war, saying Kyiv was willing to talk but only after Moscow agreed to a ceasefire.

Putin made his proposal in a 1:30 am (2230 GMT Saturday) televised statement from the Kremlin that coincided with prime time in the US, where President Donald Trump has been pressing both sides to agree to a truce of at least 30 days and stop the three-year-old war.

Zelenskiy cautious after Putin proposes direct peace talks with Ukraine

Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker and has repeatedly promised to end the war, called it “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!”

Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker and has repeatedly promised to end the war, called it “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!”

However, Putin suggested that any ceasefire was a matter for the talks he proposed for Istanbul next Thursday, May 15.