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Ukraine: Merz says Putin’s peace talks proposal falls short

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Merz and Ukraine's other allies pushed for a 30-day ceasefire beginning Monday © GENYA SAVILOV/AFP

Story by Kieran Burke, Kate Hairsine (with AP, Reuters, dpa, AFP)

Friedrich Merz says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct peace talks with Kyiv is insufficient. The German chancellor says a ceasefire with Ukraine should come first.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes resuming direct talks with Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects Russia to commit to ceasefire first German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insists a ceasefire in Ukraine must be agreed before talks Turkey says it is ready to host future peace talks

Germany’s Merz says ‘weapons must be silenced’ before peace talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Russia’s willingness to talk is “positive sign” but “far from sufficient” in comments made after returning from his first trip to Kyiv.

Merz said that European allies were backing a 30-day truce, which “Ukraine agreed to without reservation.”

“We expect Moscow to agree to a ceasefire that allows real talks to take place. First the weapons must be silenced, then the discussions can begin,” the new conservative leader said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

Merz was responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey from Thursday.

Turkey ready to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Ankara is ready to host the negotiations for a ceasefire and permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Turkish leader’s office said.

Erdogan also told Macron that a “historic turning point” has been reached in the efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The two leaders held a phone call on Sunday, Erdogan’s office said.

Ukraine violated Moscow’s unilateral ceasefire more than 14,000 times, Russia says

Russia’s defense ministry said Ukraine had violated the three-day ceasefire, unilaterally declared by Moscow, 14,043 times, according to state news agency TASS.

Russia says Ukraine’s military tried to breach Russia’s southern border into the regions of Kursk and Belgorod five times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the three-day ceasefire last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Ukraine did not agree to the ceasefire, calling it a “parade of cynicism.”

Zelenskyy welcomes Russian offer of direct talks, but wants ceasefire first

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks, but said a ceasefire must come first.

“It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war … And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy posted on X.

“We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — full, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12th,” he added.

Russian drones target Kyiv and other cities: Ukrainian military

Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched more than 100 drones into Ukraine at night, shortly after a Russian 72-hour ceasefire had ended at midnight.

Drone attacks were reported in the capital city Kyiv as well as over Odesa, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

The three-day ceasefire was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Both Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of violating the ceasefire several times.

The attacks came as Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored a European-proposed 30-day ceasefire, backed by the US, instead offering direct talks with Kyiv later this month.

Macron says Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Kyiv ‘not enough’

French President Emmanuel Macron said President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine is “not enough.”

“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition,” Macron told reporters in the Polish city of Przemysl. He said Putin was “looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time.”

Macron was on the way back from Ukraine after he and the leaders of Germany, Poland and the UK met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

“We need to stand firm with the Americans and say that the ceasefire is unconditional and then we can discuss the rest,” Macron said.

Putin had proposed direct communication with Kyiv in Istanbul on Sunday, but Macron said that was not acceptable for Ukrainians because “they cannot accept parallel discussions while they continue to be bombed.”

He also expressed doubt over whether Zelenskyy would agree for Putin’s proposed talks.

Ukraine-Russia war: ‘A BIG week upcoming!’ says Trump

US President Donald Trump said he will “continue to work with both sides” to end the war in Ukraine.

“A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, without specifying what he was referring to.

“Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending “bloodbath” hopefully comes to an end… I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens.”

“The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!” Trump exclaimed.

The comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed resuming direct talks with Ukraine as early as next week.

Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv

Ukraine’s air defense units are trying to repel a Russian air attack on Kyiv, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said, after Ukraine’s air force warned of a drone attack on the capital.

“Air defense forces are working in the capital. Stay in shelters!” Klitschko posted on his Telegram account at 4.55 a.m. Kyiv time (1:55 a.m. UTC) on Sunday.

Kyiv’s City Military Administration posted an alert on Telegram shortly afterwards.

“An air alert has been issued in Kyiv due to the threat of enemy UAVs. We urge city residents to immediately go to the nearest shelters and stay there until the alert ends,” it said.

It said that air defenses units were engaging enemy targets on Kyiv’s outskirts.

News agency Reuters cited local witnesses who “heard blasts in Kyiv from what sounded like air defence units in operation.”

This live map show Ukraine’s regions which have active air raids.

Putin proposes restarting direct talks with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested restarting direct talks with Ukraine.

In comments to reporters early on Sunday, Putin said that the talks should aim to achieve a durable peace and eliminate the root causes of the war.

“We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday [May 15] in Istanbul,” Putin said.

“Those who really want peace can’t be against [the proposal],” he said.

The Russian president added that he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It’s not the first time that Putin has tied a ceasefire to the condition of removing the root causes of the war he launched.

Putin typically lists several long-standing complaints he has with Ukraine and the West as justification for invading Ukraine in early 2022.

His demands usually include a stop to NATO’s expansion and Ukraine’s permanent exclusion from the defense alliance, the removal of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from office and returning Ukraine to Russia’s sphere of influence.

In his comments, Putin did not directly address a request by Ukraine and four of its main Western allies for a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions.

The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland threatened on Saturday to increase sanctions on Russia if it doesn’t accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Russia’s self-declared ceasefire expires

The three-day ceasefire declared by Russia expired on Saturday at midnight.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of only pretending to observe the ceasefire, which was declared for celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

“The attacks on the front line continue,” President Volodymr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.

“And Russian assaults are ongoing,” he said. “They haven’t stopped using aerial bombs against our front line positions and border communities.”

Russian shelling in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region over the past day killed three residents and wounded four more, officials there said.

Another civilian died Saturday as a Russian drone struck the southern city of Kherson, according to the regional government.

The US embassy in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, warned on Friday of a “potentially significant” Russian air attack that may occur over the coming days. It didn’t give any further details.

Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Welcome to our coverage

Here is a summary of the lastest developments in the Ukraine war.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine. He said that the talks could take place in Turkey as early as next week and that he would talk to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Russia’s self-declared ceasefire ended on Saturday at midnight. Putin had declared the three-day ceasefire as Russia marked the 80th anniversary of its victory against Nazi Germany. But Ukraine accuses Russia of violating the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and its allies have pushed for 30-day ceasefire starting from Monday. Leaders from four major European countries threatened to increase sanctions on Russia if Putin doesn’t accept the proposal for an unconditional ceasefire.

Politics

Amaechi blames Tinubu for poor state of economy

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The former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has questioned the whereabouts of the savings from the fuel subsidy removal and naira floating policies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Amaechi, who was a former Minister of Transportation under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, made this known during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday.

According to him, the Nigerian economy is dying under Tinubu.

Amaechi noted that the purchasing power of Nigerians has been watered down by the Tinubu government.

“You are making savings from the fuel subsidy and floating the naira; where is the money?

“You get N16,000, for instance; in Buhari’s government, that will get you ten times as much, for instance, let’s assume, today, you get 120,000. You can only get four tyres. Which do you prefer?” he said.

Amaechi is part of the opposition coalition alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that moved to the African Democratic Congress on Wednesday.

Recall that in 2023, Tinubu’s administration announced the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. Prices of goods and services in Nigeria skyrocketed because of the policies.

Meanwhile, Tinubu’s government has stressed that the cooling of inflation, which stood at 22.97 per cent in May, and the relative stability of the naira at the foreign exchange market (N1,525.83 per dollar as of Thursday) are indications that the country’s economy is on the right track.

In January 2023, before Buhari exited the seat of power, Nigeria’s headline inflation stood at 21.82 per cent, and the naira exchange rate to the dollar was around N745.

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Rivers: I won’t disclose details of peace deal with Fubara – Wike

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says he will not reveal details of the recent truce brokered between him and suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The minister however declared that peace has returned to Rivers State.

Wike made this declaration on Thursday during a media chat at his residence in Abuja. He said rather than disclose details of the peace deal, he would instead allow people to speculate.

“I will allow you to speculate, it’s not my business. All I know is that peace has come. If you are not satisfied with that, there is nothing we can do. What is important is that peace has returned, whatever thing anybody says is not my business,” he said.

Ekwutosblog recalls that President Bola Tinubu, last month, hosted a conciliatory meeting between Wike, Fubara and the suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, signaling a return to peace in the state.

The President suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers Assembly in March 2025, after a heated and long-drawn political impasse in the oil-producing state.

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‘This boy ran for president, didn’t get one vote’ – Wike slams Dele Momodu

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described Dele Momodu as a ‘boy’, saying he does not even know his name.

Wike spoke on Thursday during a media chat with some select media houses.

Wike said that he does not remember the name of Dele Momodu, one of the most popular journalists in the country.

Wike’s comment about Momodu may not be unconnected to the journalist’s criticism of his political antics.

Momodu, the publisher of Ovation International Magazine, recently claimed that Wike cannot defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, because he will lose his authority.

In what appears as a response to the claim, Wike said, “There is this boy, they say he is a journalist. What’s his name? He is big.”

When a journalist said “Dele Momodu”.

Wike added, “Okay, I don’t remember all these names. He was never my friend. He ran for president, but he didn’t get one vote.”

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