Initiatives regarding Ukraine
Diplomatic efforts to stop the war in Ukraine are intensifying.
Bogdan Matei, 12.05.2025, 13:50
On the sidelines of Saturday’s summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, which brought together Kyiv’s allies and partners, Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan said that it is in Romania’s best interest to reach a lasting and just peace as quickly as possible in neighboring Ukraine. “This requires continued support and robust security guarantees (for Ukraine). I am confident Romania will continue to actively contribute to achieving our common goal”, Bolojan said at the end of the summit, which he attended by videolink. All the leaders attending the meeting, including French president Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, “supported the proposal to establish a total and unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as the need to maintain pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, in case of non-compliance with the ceasefire”, Ilie Bolojan said.
The essential role of the United States and close cooperation with this strategic ally were also emphasized, the interim president of Romania went on to say. On the other hand, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he “will wait” for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Turkey, where the latter suggested to hold talks starting Thursday. “We expect a complete and lasting ceasefire starting Monday to provide a necessary basis for diplomacy”, Zelenskyy wrote on X. “I will wait for Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally, I hope this time the Russians will not look for excuses”, the Ukrainian leader added. Putin offered to take part in “direct and unconditional” negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul, starting May 15. He did not rule out the idea of a ceasefire in negotiations with Kyiv, but stressed that these negotiations should focus on what he called “the root causes of the conflict”. In turn, Zelenskyy called on Russia to commit to a “complete, lasting and reliable” 30-day ceasefire.
Previously, US president Donald Trump expressed doubts that Ukraine would reach a ceasefire agreement with Russia. “Russian president Putin does not want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday in Turkey to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to that, immediately”, the White House leader said. The two sides “could determine whether or not a deal is possible”, and if it’s not, “European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!”, Donald Trump added. (VP)
