Russia defies ceasefire calls as tensions escalate in Ukraine
The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, urged Russia to accept the Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. "As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!!" he wrote.
"Even the Prime Minister of New Zealand gets it. As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!! An unconditional 30 day ceasefire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way around," wrote General Keith Kellogg on the X platform.
The Kremlin remains defiant. Putin does not want peace
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of New Zealand stated, "New Zealand stands with our partners around the world in supporting a just and lasting peace in Ukraine – starting with a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire."
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that it was agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire would begin on Monday.
A threat was also made against Russia—if it does not agree to the ceasefire, the EU countries and the USA will impose "massive" and "coordinated" sanctions on Moscow.
In response to the appeal, on the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Russian leader held a press conference at the Kremlin. He was nearly an hour late for it. One of the topics discussed was the war in Ukraine. The Russian leader proposed "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday, May 15.
He stated that he had repeatedly proposed steps to achieve a ceasefire. However, let's remember that Moscow has failed to uphold these agreements every time and—despite the announced ceasefire—continued attacks. This was the case, for instance, during the Easter truce.
These events prompted a reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced an intensification of efforts for peace between Russia and Ukraine. "A big week is coming," he announced on Truth Social, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming peace talks.
Moscow doesn’t want a ceasefire
Since Sunday morning, the Kremlin has been conducting a disinformation campaign. Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire followed by talks.
Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian politician, speaking to the TASS agency, stated that Zelensky is making statements about a ceasefire to start rearming Ukraine.
MP Leonid Slutsky believes that Putin's proposal to resume negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul is "a real step towards achieving peace."
He stated that Putin skillfully outmaneuvered the "European hawks" and Zelensky on the international stage, who issued an ultimatum for a 30-day ceasefire.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Kyiv "misinterpreted the transcript of Putin's statements."
She stressed that Putin made it clear the causes of the conflict must be addressed before any discussion about a ceasefire can take place.
