Putin Signals Willingness to Hold Bilateral Truce Talks With Ukraine

The Russian leaderโ€™s remarks follow the recent expiry of a 30-hour Easter cease-fire.

Moscow is open to holding talks with Ukraine with a view to reaching a conditional cease-fire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

โ€œWe have always said that we treat any peace initiative positively,โ€ Putin said in remarks to the Russian press on April 21, which were later published on the Kremlinโ€™s website.

Putin made the remarks following the expiry of a unilateral 30-hour cease-fire, which he had announced over the weekend to coincide with the Easter holiday.

While Kyiv has accused Russia of violating its own unilateral truce, Moscow says its forces strictly observed the Easter cease-fire, which lasted from 6 p.m. on April 19 to midnight on April 20 (Moscow time).

Moscow also claims that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian positionsโ€”both military and civilianโ€”during the cease-fire period.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify battlefield claims made by either side of the conflict, which recently entered its third year.

Despite allegations of cease-fire breaches, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that โ€œthere were no air raid alerts [in Ukraine] on Easter, and some sectors of the frontline remained quiet.โ€

โ€œThis proves [a cease-fire] is possible … when Russia chooses to reduce the killing,โ€ he said on social media platform X on April 21.

Zelenskyy also repeated proposals for a longer-term truce aimed at banning strikes by either side on civilian facilities.

โ€œUkraine stands by its offerโ€”at the very least, not to strike civilian infrastructure,โ€ he wrote.

โ€œAnd we expect a clear answer from Moscow.

โ€œWe are ready for any conversation on how to ensure this.โ€

In his recent remarks to the Russian press, Putin appeared to respond to Zelenskyyโ€™s proposal without mentioning the Ukrainian leader by name.

โ€œWe are always positive about a cease-fire, and this is why this [Easter truce] initiative was suggested,โ€ Putin said.

โ€œRegarding the proposal to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure targetsโ€”this matter requires thorough examination.โ€

He said that Ukrainian forces often used civilian facilities โ€œfor military purposes.โ€

โ€œAll such cases require meticulous investigation, possibly even on a bilateral basis through dialogue,โ€ Putin said. โ€œWe do not rule this out.โ€

Speaking to reporters shortly afterward, a Kremlin spokesman appeared to confirm Putinโ€™s willingness to discuss possible cease-fire proposals with Kyiv.

โ€œWhen the president spoke about the option of negotiating the issue of not striking civilian infrastructure facilities … he was particularly referring to negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side,โ€ Russiaโ€™s TASS news agency quoted the spokesman as saying on April 21.

By Adam Morrow

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Beyond the Trump-Musk fallout?

We are witnessing an unprecedented, unhinged Democrat effort to use lawfare, big Democrat donors, street theater, congressional disruptions, potty-mouth videos, the administrative state, the legacy media, and discredited pollsters to stop the Trump agenda.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

News

Supreme Court Sides With DOGE in Social Security, Records Cases

The Supreme Court handed DOGE two big wins late on June 6 in its effort to reduce the size of the federal government.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.
spot_img

Related Articles