French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly rejected Vladimir Putin’s proposal of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, insisting negotiations cannot occur while military aggression persists. Speaking on May 11, 2025, Macron stressed the necessity of an unconditional ceasefire before beginning any diplomatic discussions. Its Kyiv Independent.
“No talks can take place while weapons are speaking,” Macron stated during a press briefing. “Dialogue cannot happen while civilians are under attack from bombs. A ceasefire must take effect now so that negotiations may commence in pursuit of peace.” Ukrains’ka pravda
Macron made these comments in response to Putin’s invitation for peace talks scheduled in Istanbul for May 15 without any preconditions, which was met with much skepticism after Russia launched an unprecedented drone offensive against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, just hours after extending an invitation for talks.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Macron’s idea of negotiations while echoing his insistence that an unconditional ceasefire must come first before any talks can commence. Zelenskyy stated, “There is no point in continuing killing for one day longer”, underscoring the necessity for immediate hostilities cessation.
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European leaders – including UK, German and Polish representatives – have come out in support of France by publicly encouraging Russia to pledge a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting May 12th; otherwise intensified sanctions could follow if Moscow refuses. The Guardian3 For further reading:
Even so, Putin has disregarded these calls for a ceasefire ultimatum by proposing that discussions address cessation of hostilities instead. Western leaders have criticised this approach as potentially acting as a delaying tactic that allows Russia to continue military operations under cover of diplomacy. (AP News).
The international community remains vigilant, hoping that sustained pressure will result in genuine commitments to peace from Russia. Yet its military actions cast doubt upon whether their intentions are truly peaceful; further compounding d