**Ukraine’s President Cautiously Welcomes Russian Offer of Talks**
In a surprise move, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has responded calmly to Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks in Istanbul next Thursday. Despite not receiving the 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine and its Western allies demanded on Saturday, Zelensky called it “a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war”.
However, experts say that this response may be more about optics than a genuine sense of hope. Both Putin and Zelensky are likely trying to avoid being seen as the obstacle to peace by US President Donald Trump, who was quick to react with an upbeat message on his Truth Social platform.
Trump hinted that the war is close to ending, writing “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!” This reaction has raised concerns about what kind of pressure Trump may put on Ukraine to accept Moscow’s demands in exchange for a ceasefire. It’s clear that Putin wants to address what he calls “the root causes of the conflict”, which, from his perspective, means Ukraine’s ambition to join a prosperous, democratic Europe.
**The Real Issue: A 30-Day Ceasefire and Ukraine’s Needs**
Moscow is demanding that the West stop arming Ukraine before any ceasefire can start. This would leave Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian advances or even a new full-scale offensive. What Ukraine really needs from its allies is an uninterrupted flow of air defences to fend off the growing numbers of drones and missiles being fired across the border.
Just last Sunday, Kyiv was hit by another wave of Russian drone attacks, with sirens blaring through the city. The US Embassy in Kyiv had warned earlier this month that there was a “significant risk of air raids” in the coming days. One of the biggest concerns is that Russia may launch another Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile like the one fired at a factory in Dnipro last November.
**The Key Question: What Will Trump Do Next?**
Now, the focus shifts to what Trump will do next. Will he decide that Putin is simply stalling, or will he throw Moscow a diplomatic lifeline and pressure Ukraine to sit down with Russia, regardless of whether there’s a ceasefire come Monday? The outcome could go either way, leaving Ukraine in an uncertain situation.
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