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Putin rejects European ultimatum on Ukraine ceasefire

The Russian President instead proposed 'direct talks' with Ukraine in Istanbul later this week, offering no commitment to halting hostilities in the meantime.

Earlier, Russia had unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire to coincide with its Victory Day celebrations. (AP Photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a ceasefire ultimatum from key European leaders, according to a reports by The Guardian and Reuters. The UK, France, Germany, and Poland had jointly demanded an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, warning of harsher sanctions and expanded military aid if Russia failed to comply.

Putin instead proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul later this week, offering no commitment to halting hostilities in the meantime. “We don’t exclude that during these negotiations we will be able to agree on new ceasefires,” he said. The Guardian reported that Putin’s response came via a late-night Kremlin press briefing.

The coordinated ceasefire call was reportedly delivered during a joint visit to Kyiv by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Guardian reported that US President Donald Trump joined the event virtually.

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Starmer said they were “calling Putin out. If he’s serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it now.” He added that the demand was for an “unconditional ceasefire, rejecting Putin’s conditions”, and warned of sanctions and increased military aid for Ukraine if Moscow refused.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media that Kyiv and its allies were prepared for a “full unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea” starting Monday—conditional on Russia’s agreement and independent monitoring.

Following the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Kyiv, all five leaders @ZelenskyyUa @EmmanuelMacron @bundeskanzler @donaldtusk @Keir_Starmer had a fruitful call with @POTUS focused on peace efforts.

Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full unconditional ceasefire on land,… pic.twitter.com/MEfbtjtE4m

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 10, 2025

Previous three-day ceasefire

Earlier, Russia had unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire to coincide with its Victory Day celebrations starting May 8. Ukrainian officials, however, reportedly viewed this as a tactical pause, claiming that fighting continued at the front despite a lull in missile and drone strikes.

Putin presided over Russia’s Victory Day parade in Red Square, where he was joined by several foreign leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Lula da Silva. The Guardian quotes Starmer saying: “Putin didn’t need conditions when he wanted a ceasefire to have a parade, and he doesn’t need them now.”

President Macron, according to the same report, said the conflict threatened the core principles of European and global order.

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The Guardian also mentioned that President Trump made only brief comments to reporters—“Get this stupid war finished. That’s my message for both of them.”

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