Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Putin proposes talks in Istanbul on May 15

During a press conference on Saturday night, Putin proposed starting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, according to Reuters.

Putin ignored the proposal by Ukraine and European leaders, supported by the US, for a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, May 12.

Instead, he said that a ceasefire could be discussed during direct talks.

“He said that Russia is offering direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in an attempt to ‘eliminate the root causes of the conflict’ and ‘achieve the restoration of long-term, lasting peace,’” Reuters quoted the Kremlin leader as saying.

As noted by the agency, Putin resorted to accusations against the Ukrainian authorities that are traditional for his rhetoric. In particular, he complained about the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.

As reported, on Saturday, May 10, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and Ukraine, following a meeting in Kyiv, adopted a joint statement proposing that Russia cease fire completely and unconditionally from Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. In the event of Russia’s refusal to accept the proposed ceasefire, they agreed to impose tougher sanctions on its banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet. The joint statement also mentioned the 17th package of EU sanctions and continued work on the effective use of frozen Russian assets.

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Austrian chancellor offers Vienna for talks on peace in Ukraine

Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the good and deep conversation they had in Paris on Saturday in which they discussed efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“We talked about intensifying our joint efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. As the capital of a neutral country, Vienna is always ready to host future peace talks,” Nehammer wrote on social media X following the meeting.

In a short video posted, the Austrian chancellor indicated that the conversation with the Ukrainian president was about what comes next when there is a chance to talk about peace again.

“I suggested Austria as a place for such talks. Before that, I spoke with the American president-elect Donald Trump. We are doing our best to build bridges, especially when it comes to how to restore peace on the European continent,” Nehammer added.

 

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TURKISH PRESIDENT PLANS TALKS WITH PUTIN AND ZELENSKY ON GRAIN CORRIDOR

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to hold telephone talks with Russian and Ukrainian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky in the near future, Western media reported on Thursday.
“At the end of this week or early next, I plan to have telephone conversations on the issue of the grain corridor with both Putin and Zelensky,” Erdogan said during a press conference in Madrid.
He noted that Turkey seeks to “pursue a balanced policy, not a course based on confrontation.” Erdogan hopes for fruitful talks with both leaders.

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FRENCH AND GERMAN PRESIDENTS URGE PUTIN TO ENTER INTO SERIOUS DIRECT TALKS WITH ZELENSKY

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the Russian President for an immediate truce and withdrawal of troops from Ukraine during a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
According to the service of the German government, the conversation took place on the initiative of France and Germany and lasted 80 minutes. “The Chancellor and the President of France called for an immediate truce and the withdrawal of Russian troops. They called on the President of Russia to enter into serious direct negotiations with the President of Ukraine and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Macron and Scholz also urged Putin to “improve the humanitarian situation of the civilian population” and “commended the commitment of the Russian President to the treatment of captured soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure unrestricted access for the International Committee of the Red Cross.”
In addition, the leaders of Germany and France also spoke with President Putin about the global food situation, “which has become particularly aggravated as a result of Russia’s aggressive war.” “President Putin has given assurances that he wants to allow grain exports from Ukraine, especially by sea. President Putin has vowed that he will not use the demining belt created to protect Ukrainian ports offensively to allow grain exports by sea. The Chancellor, President Macron and President Putin have agreed on the central role of the United Nations in reaching and implementing an agreement on this issue,” the federal government said in a release.
In turn, the Elysee Palace also reported that Macron and Scholz, during a telephone conversation with Putin, called for the release of 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war from Azovstal.
In addition, Macron and Scholz called on Putin to negotiate directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Macron and Scholz urged the interlocutor “to urgently lift the blockade from Odessa in order to enable the export of Ukrainian grain to prevent a global food crisis.” They took note of the readiness of the Russian Federation to let foreign ships into this port to export grain, the Elysee Palace said.

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TURKISH PRESIDENT AGAIN PROPOSES PUTIN TO ORGANIZE TALKS WITH ZELENSKY IN ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, repeated his proposal to upgrade the talks in Istanbul to the level of leaders, the Turkish presidential administration said.
“President Erdogan reiterated his proposal to elevate the Istanbul process, an important stage for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, to the level of leaders,” the Turkish presidential administration said on Twitter on Tuesday.
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring the ceasefire, the effective operation of humanitarian corridors and the safe conduct of the evacuation, Erdogan said that Turkey will continue to make every effort to end the current state of affairs, which is detrimental to everyone, and establish a lasting peace.
“President Erdogan noted that the continuation of the positive momentum achieved in the Istanbul talks to pave the way for peace will benefit everyone,” the message says.

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TURKEY READY TO ORGANIZE RUSSIA-UKRAINE TALKS AT LEVEL OF HEADS OF STATE – ERDOĞAN

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday reiterated that Ankara is ready to organize a meeting of the heads of Russia and Ukraine, Anadolu said.
“Turkey is making efforts to continue the Istanbul process between Russia and Ukraine, and is ready to organize a dialogue at the level of heads of state,” the agency said.
Erdoğan also expressed hope for progress in the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations.
“There is progress. However, they are far from desired. We hope for progress. We do not lose hope,” Anadolu said, citing the Turkish leader.

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