How did Western leaders respond to Putin?

Since Putin's statement came at midnight, reactions to it are only now being expressed.

Donald Trump has so far limited himself to the most general comments on the events of the last day, calling them a "potentially great day" for Russia and Ukraine.

"Think about how many hundreds of thousands of lives will be saved if this 'bloodbath' ends. It will be a new world, much better than the one before. I will continue to work with both sides to achieve this," he wrote on his Truth Social network.

However, it is impossible to draw a clear conclusion from the American president's post about what he hopes for: the joint demand of Ukraine's allies for a 30-day ceasefire or Vladimir Putin's proposal to return to direct negotiations, along with the refusal of a ceasefire.

The French president called Vladimir Putin's proposal to resume direct talks between Moscow and Kiev "a first step, but not enough."

"There can be no unconditional ceasefire before negotiations. Putin is looking for a way out, but he is trying to buy time," he told reporters in Przemysl, Poland, on his way home from Kiev. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!