Slovak PM Robert Fico has praised Moscows offer of talks to Kiev, saying the two should be left to make peace without interference

Many Western states want the Ukraine conflict to continue, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. This explains their lukewarm response to Moscow's proposal for direct talks with Kiev, he has argued.

Earlier on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Ukraine the opportunity to restart negotiations to resolve the conflict next Thursday in Istanbul, Türkiye.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that his country is prepared to host the talks. US President Donald Trump welcomed the proposal, writing on Truth Social that he expects "a BIG week upcoming."

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, said Putin's offer is "not enough" and called for a ceasefire first.

"I am shocked that there is a proposal that on May 15, Russians and Ukrainians can meet in Istanbul for direct talks where concrete results can be obtained, and I hear statements from Germany and France that they do not agree," Fico told a press briefing on Sunday following his visit to Moscow for Victory Day. "What do they have to do with it all? Isn't it a matter for Ukraine to decide?"

Fico warned that the conflict will "last years more" if Kiev's Western backers don't stop interfering and start "respecting basic things," including the right for Russian and Ukraine to work out a settlement one-on-one.

The prime minister went on to say that Western interference was behind the failure of the previous Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul in 2022. "Everything was ready, Ukraine was ready to sign a peace agreement, but the big boys from the West came and said no, we have to use this war to beat the Russians."

"Many Western countries really want this war to continue," Fico added. He expressed hope, however, that this will change once Russia and Ukraine sit down for talks. "This is a matter of Ukraine and Russia above all. If they are interested in working, they will be working."

READ MORE: Slovak PM slams Western Iron Curtain in talks with Putin

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has called Putin's proposal a "positive sign" and said he is "ready to meet" for talks. He insisted, however, that a ceasefire should come first, suggesting that it begin on May 12.

Moscow has been wary of a prolonged pause in the fighting without a formal deal, warning it could allow Kiev to regroup and rearm. Ukraine rejected Russia's 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire, and the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces violated that short-term truce multiple times.

(RT.com)