Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to pressure from the U.S., proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine on Monday. This marked the first such offer in years, following a 30-hour Easter ceasefire that Putin announced unilaterally on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The ceasefire ultimately collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations.
Putin’s ceasefire, intended to pause hostilities for Easter, was met with scepticism by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who dismissed it as a “publicity stunt.” Both sides reported extensive violations, with Ukraine noting nearly 3,000 Russian breaches, including heavy shelling along the Pokrovsk front, and Russia claiming over 900 Ukrainian drone attacks.
Zelenskiy proposed extending the truce to 30 days, focusing on protecting civilian targets, a suggestion Putin said he would consider bilaterally. “We are open to peace initiatives,” Putin told Russian state TV, signalling potential direct negotiations with Kyiv. His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed Putin’s intent for talks, a rare step since failed peace efforts in 2022.
U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to end the three-year conflict, has shifted U.S. policy toward neutrality, frustrating Kyiv. After Russia rejected a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire last month, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday that Washington could abandon peace talks without progress. Trump expressed cautious optimism on Sunday, hoping for a deal soon.
Russia maintains demands for Ukraine to cede annexed territories and adopt permanent neutrality, terms Zelenskiy rejects as surrender. Ukraine insists on mirroring Russia’s actions: “Ceasefire for ceasefire, strikes for strikes,” Zelenskiy posted on X. No immediate response from Kyiv followed Putin’s latest proposal.
