Putin urged to prove Russia wants peace ahead of Trump talks

6 hours ago 3

Jacqueline Howard

BBC News

The UK and France person urged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to beryllium helium wants a bid woody with Ukraine, up of talks betwixt Putin and Donald Trump connected Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the "courage" of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenksy successful agreeing to a ceasefire proposal, and challenged Russia to bash the same.

"Enough deaths. Enough lives destroyed. Enough destruction. The guns indispensable autumn silent," Macron said successful a station connected X.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Putin should hold to a "full and unconditional ceasefire now", telling MPs helium had seen "no sign" that Putin was superior astir a bid deal.

He warned that the UK and its allies person "more cards that we tin play" to assistance unit Russia to negociate "seriously".

The White House sounded a much upbeat enactment connected the eve of the Trump-Putin talks, expected to instrumentality spot by phone, saying bid successful Ukraine has "never been closer".

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters connected Monday that Trump was "determined" to unafraid the bid deal.

On what the talks mightiness cover, she said: "There's a powerfulness works that is connected the borderline of Russia and Ukraine that was up for treatment with the Ukrainians, and helium volition code it successful his telephone with Putin tomorrow."

The installation is apt to beryllium the Zaporizhzhia atomic powerfulness plant, the largest successful Europe. It has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022, and fears of a atomic mishap person persisted owed to warring successful the area.

Asked connected Sunday what concessions were being considered successful the ceasefire negotiations, Trump said: "We'll beryllium talking astir land. We'll beryllium talking astir powerfulness plants [...] We're already talking astir that, dividing up definite assets."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to remark connected what the leaders would discuss, responding, "We ne'er bash that."

While Putin has antecedently said helium supports a ceasefire, helium besides acceptable retired a database of conditions for achieving peace.

One of the areas of contention is Russia's Western Kursk region, wherever Ukraine launched a subject incursion past August and captured immoderate territory.

Russia had pushed to recapture it successful caller weeks, and Putin present claims it is afloat backmost successful power of Kursk.

He has besides raised galore questions astir however a ceasefire could beryllium monitored and policed on the frontline successful the east, and has said helium would not judge Nato troops connected the territory.

The bid connection connected the array was discussed by Ukrainian and American delegates successful Saudi Arabia past week.

After hours locked distant successful a room, they announced proposals for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine said it was acceptable to accept.

France's President Macron and recently elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met connected Tuesday, stressed their nations would proceed their "unwavering" enactment of Ukraine and request "clear commitments" from Russia.

Read Entire Article