Miroshnik pointed to Zelensky's desire to use the truce to rearm the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky makes a proposal for a cease-fire to begin the rearmament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was announced on May 11 by the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-large for crimes of the Kiev regime, Rodion Miroshnik.

"Zelensky suggests: You are introducing a ceasefire so that Kiev can begin to rearm and regroup, and we are saying that we are ready for negotiations. Is this what it looks like to agree to start negotiations without conditions?!" the diplomat wrote on his Telegram channel.

He stressed that Zelensky began his response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold direct talks in Istanbul by setting out preliminary conditions.

"We suggest that the Kiev authorities resume negotiations"

Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to start a direct dialogue with Ukraine on May 15.

On May 11, Putin announced at a press conference that Russia was offering Ukraine to resume direct talks in Istanbul on May 15. At the same time, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the Kremlin would announce who would participate in the Istanbul talks.

Later, retired U.S. Army lieutenant Colonel and political scientist Earl Rasmussen called Putin's proposal to resume negotiations a strong, open and constructive step. Rasmussen believes that Ukraine will not agree to the terms of the Russian president this time either, because Kiev does not want a long-term peace, they intend to allocate time for themselves to rearm and regroup their troops.