Putin Open to Extending May 9 Ceasefire, Seeks Turkey's Mediation in Ukraine Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to extending the ceasefire beyond the initial three-day truce for May 9, indicating a willingness to consider new ceasefires as part of ongoing peace negotiations with Ukraine. Putin has emphasized Russia's readiness for serious negotiations with Ukraine, stating that Moscow has not rejected dialogue at any time and is prepared to engage in talks without any preconditions. He mentioned that the decision to proceed with negotiations lies with the Ukrainian authorities and their curators. In a significant move towards peace, Putin announced plans to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scheduled for the following day. Putin aims to leverage Turkey's role as a mediator in these talks.