Putin opens door to peace talks with Ukraine after he is given 24 HOURS to sign 30-day ceasefire by Europe and America
VLADIMIR Putin has said he wants to hold direct peace talks with Ukraine within just days.
Speaking to reporters in the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday, Putin proposed to restart negotiations that Russia and Ukraine held in 2022.
It comes after Ukraine and four European leaders pressed Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday or face "painful sanctions".
The ultimatum was given after talks in Kyiv attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland.
The United States and other countries back the proposal, they said.
The Kremlin's spokesman told CNN that Moscow will "think through" the proposal, but stressed "there are lots of questions" remaining and that Russia is "resistant to any kind of pressure".
Now, Putin says he wants to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey on May 15.
The dictator said: "It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv. Nevertheless, we are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions.
"Despite everything, we offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.
"Let me remind you that as a result of these negotiations, a joint draft document was prepared, and it was initialled by the head of the Kyiv negotiating group, but at the insistence of the West, it was thrown into the trash."
A smirking Putin, who has repeatedly bombarded civilians in Ukraine, also claimed Russia had made several ceasefire initiatives, but Kyiv failed to respond to the proposals.
He said: "Kyiv authorities have not responded to any of our ceasefire proposals."
But the tyrant has now agreed to hold direct talks with Kyiv.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer joined leaders from France, Germany and Poland to issue a tough ultimatum to Russia as they visited war-torn Kyiv to mark the end of VE Day week.
The coalition of the willing group pushed Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire deal in just 24 hours.
If Moscow refuses, it will be hit with more crippling sanctions which targets their lucrative oil trade in a bid to grind down its wartime economy. Russia’s banking sector will also be targeted.
Crucially, Donald Trump backed the plan - piling massive pressure on Putin to sign up to the peace deal or face America’s wrath.
The Sun on Sunday joined Sir Keir in Kyiv as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Volodymyr Zelensky to challenge Mad Vlad to lay down his weapons and come to the negotiating table.
Speaking at a press conference in the grounds of the Ukrainian Presidential Palace, Sir Keir said it is time to “win the battle for peace”.
The PM said: “All of us together with the US are calling Putin out.
Military aid to Ukraine will again be ramped up so it will be armed to the teeth to take on the Red Army if Putin refuses to comply.
Sir Keir said there is “unity and strength” as around 30 countries across Europe and including Canada, America and Japan are signed up to the plan.
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But Russian figures immediately hit back at the peace plan.
Dmitry Medvedev - the former leader of Russia - fumed online: "Shove these plans into your pangender a****!".
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