Western ultimatums to Russia over peace in Ukraine are already having an effect, insists Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
“The fact that Putin rushed to hold a press conference less than 24 hours after European leaders, backed by the US, demanded an unconditional ceasefire tells us everything. This approach works – and we must stick to it,” Lithuania’s foreign minister posted on X on Sunday.
Putin's answer to yet another ceasefire proposal: a swarm of 100 drones raining down on #Ukraine overnight. Putin is playing his usual game - wielding terror as leverage and stalling for time to avoid any real path to peace.
— Kęstutis Budrys (@BudrysKestutis) May 11, 2025
⁰Talking peace while Russian bombs keep falling on…
Last weekend, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland visited Kyiv and urged Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday.
Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, warned that the Kremlin would face tougher sanctions if it refused. US President Donald Trump has also called for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday morning proposed holding talks in Istanbul on May 15, but did not commit to a ceasefire.
Budrys, however, said the ceasefire must come first.
“Talking peace while Russian bombs keep falling on Ukrainian civilians is a farce. The rules are clear – unconditional ceasefire from Monday or face new tougher sanctions,” he wrote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, said he hoped Moscow would agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday and that Kyiv was ready for direct talks with Russia.
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