RUSSIA – Russia says that the 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that’s being sought by France and Germany is aimed at bolstering the Ukrainian army and give them the “breathing space” so that they can prepare and continue their military action.
A commentary by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, gave Moscow’s overview of the processes surrounding the Minsk agreements, a series of deals signed in 2014 and 2015 to secure an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Zakharova confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met only once back in December 2019 in the French capital Paris, rejecting that an “extension” of the Minsk agreements was discussed then.
The spokeswoman argued that the summit held in the Normandy format was “remembered” with Zelenskyy’s refusal to approve its final document, claiming that later statements by Ukrainian officials and others affirmed Kyiv, at that time, was “not going to implement anything.”
She later claimed that France and Germany “helped Kyiv prepare” for a conflict with Moscow, adding: “Today, the same countries are seeking a 30-day ceasefire to give Kyiv a breathing space to restore its military potential and continue the confrontation with Russia.”
French and German authorities have not immediately commented on Russia’s accusations.
Zakharova’s remarks come as Putin on Sunday proposed Ukraine to hold direct peace talks on May 15 in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul without preconditions, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirming his country’s readiness to host the talks in a phone call with the Russian president later that day.
In response, Zelenskyy said that he would “personally” be “waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday,” but reaffirmed Ukraine’s expectations for a ceasefire starting on Monday to “provide the necessary basis for diplomacy.”
