Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine as European leaders demand ceasefire

Vladimir Putin has called for "direct talks" with Ukraine on 15 May, hours after European leaders met in Kyiv to demand a 30-day ceasefire

Kyiv is yet to respond to Putin's invitation for "serious negotiations"

On Saturday, leaders from the UK, Germany, France, Poland and Ukraine warned Russia would face "new and massive" sanctions if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire

Donald Trump says this could be a "potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine", as he vows to "continue to work with both sides"

Putin says Russia wants 'serious' Ukraine talks, sidesteps European leaders' ultimatum

European leaders delivered an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin. Agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face massive new sanctions.

In a late-night statement delivered in the Kremlin President Putin criticised European powers which he said spoke with Russia in a boorish manner and with the help of ultimatums.

He sidestepped this particular one.

Presenting instead his own proposal: direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul next Thursday – he said he would speak to President Erdogan of Turkey later today to facilitate such talks.

Crucially, the Kremlin did not sign up to a 30-day ceasefire.

Although, he didn’t exclude the possibility that if talks in Istanbul went ahead they could lead to, what he described as, “new ceasefires.”

The Kremlin event was expected to be a press conference about recent World war Two commemorations in Russia – but Mr Putin took no questions. And left the hall after delivering his statement.

Meanwhile, Trump has said Putin's announcement means this could be a "potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine".

In a post on Truth Social, the US president said: "Think of the hundreds and thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending "bloodbath" hopefully comes to an end."

"It will be a whole new, and much better world," he added, vowing that he will "continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens".

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating three-day truce

As we've just mentioned, European leaders met in Kyiv on Saturday. Their visit coincided with a three-day unilateral truce in the Ukraine-Russia war, which was declared by Moscow.

The truce, which was in place from 8 to 10 May, coincided with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

Kyiv rejected Putin’s proposal, calling it a "theatrical show".

Fighting did appear to decrease during this period, although both sides accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.

On Thursday, Ukraine accused Russia of more than 730 violations and said it was responding "appropriately".

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry insisted the truce was being observed, and accused Ukraine of 488 violations.

On Saturday, leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Their visit was seen as a symbolic response to the more than 20 leaders who joined President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for Russia's Victory Day commemorations on Friday.

While in Kyiv, the leaders held a virtual call with countries in the coalition of the willing. They also communicated with US President Donald Trump.

Afterwards, the leaders held a news conference, urging Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine starting on Monday.

They warned "new and massive" sanctions would be placed on Moscow if it does not comply with the ceasefire.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "All of us here together with the US are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it."