Ukraine’s Zelenskyy insists on truce as Russia’s Putin offers direct talks

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Moscow has rejected a US-supported 30-day truce proposal from Ukraine and its European allies, dismissing it as an ultimatum. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to hold direct talks in Istanbul on May 15, aiming for “lasting peace” without preconditions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy views this as a positive development but insists that a ceasefire must be initiated by May 12 as a crucial first step toward ending the conflict that has persisted for three years.