Vietnam supports a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict and has praised Moscow’s offer for discussions.
According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang, Vietnam welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to restart direct peace negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions.
Hang stated during a press conference on Monday that Vietnam has consistently supported resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through diplomacy and approves of the Russian president’s most recent offer for talks.
“We welcome the recent proposal made on May 11 by Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine,” the spokeswoman stated.
On Sunday, Putin suggested that “the Kiev authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted in 2022” without any preconditions, on May 15 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Putin made the comments while speaking to the media after the 80th anniversary of Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, which were attended by numerous foreign leaders and dignitaries.
The president stated that negotiations could result in “some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire.” Putin emphasized, “We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective.”
The proposal received varied reactions from Kiev and its Western allies, who insisted that a 30-day truce must come before any negotiations. The Russian proposal came shortly after leaders from France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union restated their call for a “full and unconditional” ceasefire, asserting that this would “create room for diplomacy.”
However, US President Donald Trump urged Kiev to “immediately” accept the Russian proposal, arguing that the discussions would at least reveal whether a peace agreement was achievable. Following Trump’s remarks, Kiev somewhat altered its position, with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky stating that he was willing to meet Putin in person in Istanbul. However, he once again demanded a ceasefire before the talks.
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