Kiev/Moscow, 11 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's offer of direct negotiations in Turkey, but insisted that a full ceasefire should take effect on Monday.

"It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war," Zelensky wrote on X on Sunday, one day after European leaders convened in Kiev to support a US-backed push to pause fighting in Ukraine, threatening Moscow with sanctions if it does not comply.

"The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time," Zelensky added. "And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire."

Putin earlier proposed to resume direct talks between Moscow and Kiev without preconditions in Istanbul as early as Thursday, although he did not directly address the demand for a 30-day ceasefire.

"Those who really want peace cannot be against [the proposal]," Putin said, speaking shortly after a three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war that he had declared unilaterally expired at midnight (2100 GMT Saturday).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described his country as an ideal location for possible peace negotiations.

The developments came after French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met in Kiev.

Together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they called for a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions, set to commence on Monday, or face new sanctions.

President Zelensky: 'Ukraine is ready to meet'

In his post on X, Zelensky said "there is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day."

"We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow ... Ukraine is ready to meet," he added.

Macron also reacted cautiously on Sunday morning to Russia's counterproposal as he arrived in Poland on his return trip from Ukraine.

The newspaper Le Monde reported that Macron told journalists, "This is a first step, but it is not sufficient."

Macron said Putin's offer was "a way of not answering," adding that it appears to be a delay tactic. "He is looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time."

It is unacceptable for the Ukrainians to conduct negotiations while they continue to be bombed, Macron said.

"We must stand firm with the [Unites States] and say that the ceasefire is unconditional, and then we can discuss the rest."

Trump: 'A BIG week upcoming!'

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an end to the conflict in Ukraine could be approaching.

While in Kiev, the leaders spoke with Trump by phone, a conversation Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called "fruitful."

"A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform early on Sunday. "Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end."

The president said he would "continue to work with both sides" to create a "whole new, and much better, WORLD."

"A BIG week upcoming!" he added.

The US had previously called for a 30-day ceasefire to allow peace negotiations to take place.

Russia, however, set conditions, including a halt to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Moscow said that Ukraine must not be allowed to gain any advantage from a ceasefire to reorganize its military forces.

Russian attacks on Kiev reported as ceasefire expires

Meanwhile, Ukraine logged fresh attacks on Sunday after the three-day ceasefire expired at midnight.

Sirens sounded in Kiev as Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on civilians to seek shelter in bunkers, while drone attacks were also reported over the regions of Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

Zelensky accused Putin of only pretending to observe the ceasefire of the past few days, which coincided with celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Both sides repeatedly accused each other of violations during the three-day ceasefire.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with massive Western support for over three years.

MIA file photo