Putin Rejects European Ultimatum on Ukraine Ceasefire, Proposes Direct Talks with Kyiv

 Moscow/Kyiv, – Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a joint ultimatum issued by European leaders demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine by Monday or face expanded sanctions and increased military support to Kyiv. Instead, Putin has proposed initiating direct negotiations with the Ukrainian government as early as this week.

At a high-level press conference in Kyiv, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called on Russia to immediately halt hostilities without preconditions.

“All of us here, with the United States, are calling on President Putin to demonstrate seriousness about peace,” said Starmer. “We are united in demanding an unconditional ceasefire. Should Russia turn its back on this opportunity, we will respond decisively—with tighter sanctions and enhanced military support to Ukraine.”

The coordinated diplomatic push comes amid ongoing conflict across Ukraine’s eastern front and escalating tensions between NATO capitals and Moscow. Starmer, Macron, and Merz arrived in Kyiv by train on Saturday morning, while Tusk traveled separately. The leaders met with President Zelenskyy for discussions focused on peace efforts, followed by a symbolic visit to Kyiv’s Maidan Square, where they paid tribute to victims of the ongoing war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed via social media that all five leaders had held a joint call with U.S. President Donald Trump. “Ukraine and all allies are prepared to implement a full, unconditional ceasefire across land, air, and sea from Monday for a period of 30 days,” Sybiha said. “If Russia agrees and robust monitoring mechanisms are put in place, this could lay the groundwork for substantive peace talks.”

Putin’s response came at a pre-dawn briefing at the Kremlin, where he dismissed the ceasefire demands but proposed that Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet in Istanbul on Thursday. “We are not excluding the possibility of agreeing to new ceasefires during these negotiations,” Putin stated. Notably, the press conference began nearly seven hours late, and Putin left without taking questions from the assembled journalists.

Russia has consistently insisted that it would only consider a ceasefire if all Western arms deliveries to Ukraine are halted—terms Kyiv and its partners have categorically rejected.

In what appeared to be a unilateral gesture, Moscow earlier announced a three-day ceasefire beginning May 8, timed with the Victory Day parade commemorating the Soviet triumph in World War II. Ukrainian officials, however, described the move as an attempt to limit Ukrainian drone activity during Russian celebrations, rather than a genuine step toward peace.

Despite the announcement, sporadic fighting along the front lines has continued. While Russia has reduced missile and drone strikes during the declared pause, there is no indication of a broader de-escalation.

At the Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stood beside Putin, along with the leaders of Slovakia and Serbia—appearances that drew muted criticism from Western capitals.

Commenting on the moment, Prime Minister Starmer said: “Putin didn’t need conditions when he wanted a ceasefire for a parade, and he doesn’t need them now. Ukraine has shown a consistent willingness to engage in peace efforts, while Russia continues to delay and deflect.”

Starmer continued: “There is no glory in conquest. True honour lies in defending one’s people and winning the peace. President Putin has drawn the wrong lessons from history.”

President Macron echoed this sentiment, stating that the defence of fundamental international principles is at stake in Ukraine. “What is unfolding now has ramifications not only for Europe but for the international order,” Macron said.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump has not issued a detailed statement on the call with European leaders, but when asked by reporters on Friday if he had a message for Putin, he replied: “I have a message for both parties: get this war ended. Get this stupid war finished.”

The current U.S. administration has faced criticism for a perceived softer stance toward Moscow, but recent developments—including a constructive meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the Vatican—signal a potential shift in tone. Even Vice President JD Vance, one of the administration’s more skeptical voices on Ukraine aid, remarked that “Russia is asking for too much” in ongoing demands to halt the conflict.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also issued a late-night alert warning of a possible “significant air attack” in the coming days. Intelligence reports suggest Russia may be preparing ballistic missile tests from its Kapustin Yar range on Monday and Tuesday, further heightening tensions.

Despite the complex geopolitical landscape, Ukraine and its allies continue to urge Russia to accept the proposed 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward durable peace.