Polish PM urges Russia to agree to 30-day truce before Istanbul talks “Ukraine is ready – no more victims!”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire before any further steps are taken.

Tusk made the remarks, commenting on Moscow's response to the appeal by European leaders and Ukraine for a 30-day pause in the fighting in order to begin substantive negotiations on possible formats for ending the war.

"In response to our appeal, the Russians have proposed peace talks starting 15 May. The world, however, іs waiting for a univocal decision on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine is ready. No more victims!" Caliber.Az quotes Tusk as saying on his X page.

The leaders of France and Germany have also said that they expect Russia to agree to a ceasefire before talks can begin. Trump's team has sent out the same message.

Following their summit in Kyiv on 10 May, the coalition of the willing demanded that Russia agree to an unconditional ceasefire for 30 days starting 12 May. The EU and the US plan to ramp up sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses to comply with the ceasefire.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not respond to the proposal for a 30-day pause in the fighting, but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday, 15 May.

By Khagan Isayev