Trump tells Ukraine to agree to direct talks with Russia ‘immediately’ as he insists Putin wants ‘end to the bloodbath’

DONALD Trump has asked Ukraine to agree to direct peace talks with Russia next week after Vladimir Putin proposed to restart direct negotiations with Kyiv.

Speaking to reporters at the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday, Putin said he is ready to restart negotiations that Russia and Ukraine held in 2022.

AFPUkrainian servicemen in Dnipropetrovsk Region[/caption] APTrump has asked Putin to agree to direct talks with Moscow[/caption] ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin gives a statement to the media at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia[/caption] AlamyKeir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Donald Tusk met Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday to show support for Ukraine[/caption]

Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed Putin does not want to have a ceasefire – as pressed by the European leaders – and instead wants to negotiate a possible end to the bloody war.

Trump said: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.

“Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.”

Putin yesterday proposed holding direct peace talks with Ukraine after getting an ultimatum to agree to a temporary ceasefire.

He said he wants to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey on May 15.

The dictator said: “It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv.

“Nevertheless, we are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions.

“Despite everything, we offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.

Ukraine and four European leaders pressed Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday or face “painful sanctions”.

The ultimatum was given after talks in Kyiv attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland.

The US and other countries back the proposal, they said.

Trump suggested that a direct meeting between Kyiv and Moscow would help “determine whether or not a deal is possible.”

He added: “If [peace deal is not possible], at least the US and Europe would know where things stand.”

However, Trump suggested he is becoming skeptical of a deal between Ukraine and Russia before slamming Putin for being “too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll”.

The president added: “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”

Moscow paraded nukes, tanks, drones and armed troops past dozens of world leaders in a show of strength to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two.

Putin whipped up patriotism in Russia’s biggest military display since launching its invasion – but Ukraine slammed it as a “parade of cynicism”.

A string of foreign leaders attended the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow‘s Red Square – including China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Putin took the mic to claim that “peace and justice are on our side,” and that Russia is united behind the war in Ukraine.

Putin, who has repeatedly bombed civilians in Ukraine and was accused of breaking the VE three-day ceasefire, said Kyiv failed to respond to his peace proposals.

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