Russian drones attack Ukraine after Kremlin turns down a ceasefire
proposa
[May 12, 2025]
By ILLIA NOVIKOV
KYIV,
Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at
Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after
the Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than
3-year war.
There was
no response from the Kremlin, meanwhile, to Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s challenge for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to
meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey this week. |
From left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister
Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz make a call to U.S.
President Donald Trump from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov) |
|
The United States and European governments have made a concerted
push to stop the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of
soldiers on both sides as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian
civilians. Russia’s invading forces have taken around one-fifth
of Ukraine.
In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia
shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European
leaders but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.
Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept
a ceasefire starting Monday before holding peace talks. Moscow
effectively rejected that proposal and instead called for direct
negotiations in Istanbul.
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept the Russian
offer. Zelenskyy went a step further and put the pressure on
Putin by offering a personal meeting between the leaders.
“Ukraine wants to end this war and is doing everything for
this,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram Monday. “We expect appropriate
steps from Russia.”
The Ukrainian leader said he told Pope Leo XIV about peace
efforts during his first phone conversation with the new
pontiff.
Ukraine is counting on the Vatican's help in securing the return
of thousands of children that the Kyiv government says have been
deported by Russia, Zelenskyy said, adding that he had invited
the pope to visit Ukraine.
In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Leo called for a
genuine and just peace in Ukraine. “I carry in my heart the
sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said.
In 2022, in the war’s early months, Zelenskyy repeatedly called
for a personal meeting with the Russian president but was
rebuffed, and eventually enacted a decree declaring that holding
negotiations with Putin had become impossible.
Putin and Zelenskyy have only met once, in 2019. Trump says
“deep hatred” between the sides has made it difficult to push
peace efforts forward.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
|
