The US and France have reacted differently to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s call for direct talks with Kyiv on May 14 in Turkey – his counterproposal to the West’s call to start an unconditional ceasefire on Monday.
The call came after Putin proposed on Sunday a resumption of the 2022 Istanbul talks to address the so-called “root causes” of his Ukraine invasion in response to the West’s Saturday ceasefire ultimatum backed by massive sanctions – without addressing the ceasefire call in his statement.
The ceasefire ultimatum marked a rare diplomatic win for Kyiv as its major Western allies – including the US – all backed the proposal.
But US President Donald Trump, in a social media update published after Putin’s statement, called it “a potentially great day.”
“A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of 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. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump later issued another Truth Social update and said Kyiv should “immediately” agree to the talks to “know where everything stands” so its allies can “proceed accordingly.”
“Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” Trump said.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was a “first step” but “not enough,” and asked Putin to comply with the ceasefire without negotiations, as an unconditional ceasefire should be.
“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations,” Macron told reporters as he stepped off a train in the Polish city of Przemysl on his return from a trip to Ukraine, according to AFP.
Macron said Putin is “looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later said he would agree to talk if Putin agrees to the ceasefire first. Zelensky then said he would be “waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” in an update issued on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, in a statement preceding Putin’s counterproposal, said it would “judge Russia by actions” and demand “concrete proposals from both sides” to end Moscow’s invasion.
“We’ll judge Russia by actions, not words. We’ve struck a deal with Ukraine for critical minerals and energy to fund their rebuilding. Now we need concrete proposals from both sides to end the conflict,” Bruce said on X on Saturday.
Ukraine’s parliament ratified the minerals deal on Thursday, May 8.