Tinshui Yeung
Live page editor

The 30-day ceasefire proposal isn’t exactly hot off the press – the US floated it back in March - but over the last few days, it has been given a fresh lease of life.

Yesterday, European leaders including the UK's Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk had one message for Russia: agree to an unconditional truce, to be implemented from Monday, or face “new and massive” sanctions.

Putin’s response? He held a late-night news conference, where he avoided giving a clear response, offering instead his own counter-proposal: direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey next Thursday.

Ukraine's reply was clear: ceasefire first, talks later.

All eyes are now on tomorrow to see whether Russia and Ukraine will actually pause the fighting.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he’s off to Turkey around the time of Putin’s proposed meeting, joining an informal gathering of Nato foreign ministers. On the agenda: ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

What will happen to the war after all this? After three years of relentless fighting, it’s tempting to believe nothing will change and the fighting just drags on. But there’s also a chance we’re on the brink of something big.

Donald Trump certainly thinks so, posting on Truth Social: “A BIG week upcoming!”

We're pausing our coverage for now. You can catch up on what's happened in the war in Ukraine over the past two days in this news piece, or read in-depth analysis from our experts Steve Rosenberg and Frank Gardner.

Let's have a look at what's happened today so far:

• President Donald Trump has posted that he wants to see an end to the "bloodbath" between Russia and Ukraine
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to commit to a full ceasefire, starting tomorrow, before possible talks between the two sides
• It's a call echoed by several world leaders including Germany's Friedrich Merz, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Keir Starmer, external, who says a ceasefire "creates the space for talks"
• Pope Leo XIV has called for "no more war" in his first Sunday message to crowds in St Peter's Square
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Putin and other leaders he's "ready to host the negotiations"
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Turkey next week around the date on which Putin is proposing to hold the talks
• Meanwhile it appears fighting continues, with both sides accusing the other of breaking the 8 to 10 May truce

Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik tells the BBC that she is sceptical about President Vladimir Putin's offer of "direct talks" saying that Russia hasn't ever given "one single sign" of wanting to end the war.

She also accuses Russia of continuing to target Ukrainian soldiers during Friday's VE Day parade in Moscow's Red Square despite Putin imposing a three-day ceasefire.

Rudik goes on to claim that Putin's early hours address was only motivated by a desire to regain the initiative, to move forward on his own terms and she calls on Western allies to stand firm.

"Once you take out a knife in a fight you need to go ahead and to show Russia that the West means business."

She says Ukraine must be supported with arms, adding: "Putin wants everyone to play his game."

Putin's offer of talks may be attempt to divide the US and Europepublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 11 May

15:28 BST 11 May

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor

Image source, Reuters

We've seen it before: Vladimir Putin doesn't react well to ultimatums. We saw it again, last night, in the Kremlin.

President Putin slammed European powers for talking to Russia "in a boorish manner and with the help of ultimatums".

He didn't go into detail. He didn't need to.

This was clearly his response to the ultimatum set by European leaders in Kyiv.

They had warned Moscow that if Russia didn't agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday, there will be more sanctions against Russia and more military assistance for Ukraine.

On Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer said that "if he [Putin] is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it".

The Kremlin's response: we're serious, but we'll show it our way.

Putin's way (his counter proposal) is direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next Thursday.

But, crucially, no immediate ceasefire.

So, is the Kremlin's offer a serious peace initiative? Or is it simply an attempt by Moscow to play for time and to prolong the war? And, with this proposal, might Russia also be trying to split the Western coalition that is backing Ukraine?

• Read more of Steve Rosenberg's analysis here

Image source, Reuters

As we reported earlier, Pope Leo XIV has called for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine in his first Sunday message to worshippers since his election last Thursday.

The Pope said: “I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people,” and urged that “every effort be made to reach a true, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible”.

Andriy Yermak, a key aide to Ukraine's President Zelensky, thanked the Pope for his support, adding: "The war must end, the fire must cease, and all prisoners and children abducted by Russia must return home.”

“For now, there is only one person who doesn’t want this to happen. But Russia must stop all of it,” Yermak says.

Joe Inwood
World news correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Turkey is the one member of the Nato alliance who has maintained the closest relationshi with Russia throughout the invasion of Ukraine. Presidents Erdogan and Putin, both strongmen in power for over two decades, have always maintained a good relationship.

Last December he was quoted by Russia’s Tass news agency as saying they were “the only leaders left” in world politics.

Despite that, Turkey remains a part of the Western military alliance, having offered military support to Ukraine, most notably their celebrated Bayraktar drones.

In short, it feels like relatively neutral territory for both sides.

In March, Turkey's defence ministry said that it could contribute to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, if a ceasefire is declared. If that is to be achieved, it will most likely be in the city where east meets west.

Joe Inwood
World news correspondent

If talks are to take place between Russia and Ukraine, it seems Istanbul will be the venue.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "Turkey is ready to host negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting solution” and that "a window of opportunity has opened for reaching peace”.

It would not be the first time the city had played host to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with varying degrees of success. In March 2022, the last talks between the two sides, demonstrably ended in failure.

Then there was the Black Sea grain initiative, negotiated in July 2022 with Turkish and UN backing, as a way of ensuring that Ukraine grain could be transported, alongside increased Russian agricultural exports. For around a year it had some success, before eventually collapsing with Russia’s withdrawal.

So, why is Istanbul once again being suggested as the venue for talks? It is a combination of geography and geopolitics.

Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus straight, connecting the Black Sea with the wider world. Under the Montreux convention, signed in 1936, Turkey oversees all maritime traffic conducted by both countries, giving it a vital role in the region.

Image source, EPA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Turkey from 14 to 16 May for a informal meeting of Nato foreign ministers, according to the US Department of State.

The talks will focus on security priorities for the alliance, including boosting allied defence investment and ending the Russia-Ukraine war, the statement says.

The visit will take place around the date on which Russia's President Vladimir Putin is proposing to hold "direct talks" with Ukraine in the country.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

This isn’t the first time Russia has talked about the “root causes” of the war.

Ever since the US suggested a 30-day ceasefire in March, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said long-standing concerns need to be dealt with first.

When the Russian president talks about “root causes”, he means the idea that Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign state is somehow a threat to Russia’s security as well as his concerns over Nato's expansion.

That makes it difficult to address these issues, as they centre on Ukraine wanting to remain independent and outside Russia’s influence, as our colleagues Laura Gozzi and Paul Kirby have written.

Image source, Reuters

Trump's special envoy to Ukraine has spoken out after Vladimir Putin proposed holding “direct talks” with Ukraine on Thursday.

Retweeting the New Zealander PM's support for a 30-day ceasefire, Kellogg says: “Even the Prime Minister of New Zealand gets it. As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!!

"An unconditional 30-day ceasefire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way around.”

Putin hasn’t rejected the 30-day ceasefire proposal, but his counter-offer of talks appears to be a no without directly saying so, according to our Russia editor's analysis.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also says that Putin wants negotiations about the “root causes” of the conflict to happen before any ceasefire can take place.

BBC Monitoring

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced Ankara's readiness to host ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish presidency said on X on 11 May.

Putin had earlier called for "direct talks" with Ukraine on 15 May in Istanbul, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is "ready to meet" and expects Moscow to "confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable", starting on 12 May.

Erdogan told Putin that his statement was "welcomed" and that "Turkey is ready to host the negotiations that will ensure reaching a permanent solution," the presidency said.

He added that a "window of opportunity opened for reaching peace" and a "comprehensive ceasefire will create the necessary environment for peace talks".

Erdogan also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on 11 May, voicing Ankara's readiness to "offer any contribution, including hosting negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace".

Trump sees breakthrough, but Ukraine and Russia remain very far apartpublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 11 May

13:13 BST 11 May

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

There are two battles going on in this war.

The one with bombs, drones and missiles, and the public relations one to prove just which side is the obstacle to peace.

President Putin has responded to Western leaders’ demands for a 30-day ceasefire with a counter-offer.

No ceasefire but instead, direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey next week about what he, Vladimir Putin, considers to be the root causes of this war. That would include Ukraine’s ambitions to join the Nato.

President Trump, who has previously hinted at imposing punitive sanctions on an intransigent Russia, has welcomed Putin’s offer.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, he hailed what he sees as an imminent breakthrough in this war.

But the reality is, Russia and Ukraine remain very far apart on just how to end it.

Image source, Reuters

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls President Putin's offer to hold talks with Ukraine "far from sufficient".

Posting on X, external, he says Russia's willingness to talk is a "good sign" but says European leaders expect Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.

"First, the guns must fall silent before talks can begin."

Image source, EPA

We're now hearing from Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk who has responded to Putin's proposal for direct talks with Ukraine.

Tusk was in Kyiv yesterday to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky alongside European leaders.

Writing on X today, he repeats the call for Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting tomorrow.

"In response to our appeal, the Russians have proposed peace talks starting May 15. The world, however, іs waiting for univocal decision on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

"Ukraine is ready. No more victims!" he says in a social media post.

Image source, Reuters

Earlier this morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin’s proposal for talks shows the Russian president has a "real intention" to find a peaceful solution.

According to Russia’s state-owned news agency Tass, external, Peskov tells Russian media Channel One that Putin’s statement is a very serious proposal for peace, and that peace can only be achieved through serious negotiations.

Serious talks would require significant shifts in both sides' positionspublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 11 May

11:52 BST 11 May

Joe Inwood
BBC News correspondent

To say there is little that Moscow and Kyiv agree on would be an understatement in the extreme.

One of the key issues is the status of the Ukrainian territory that Russia occupies.

Some, like the Crimean Peninsula and parts of the Eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, were taken by Russia’s so called “little green men” in 2014.

The rest, including parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, were seized during the full-scale invasion of the last three years.

In September 2022, Russia claimed to hold referenda in the four occupied Oblasts. Unsurprisingly, the result was the one that Moscow desired. Since then, Russia has said it wants to not only keep land it has captured, but has even suggested taking the remaining, uncaptured, parts of those regions.

For Ukraine, this would not only cross every red line, but also be a breach of the country’s constitution, article 2 of which states that Ukraine's sovereignty "extends throughout its entire territory" which "within its present border is indivisible and inviolable".

Changing that would require a national referendum, something that cannot happen while the country is at war.

There has been talk of “de facto” recognition, rather than “de jure”. In short, Kyiv would recognise the realities on the ground, rather than acknowledging them in international law.

Even this would be a vast concession from the Ukrainian people, who would see it as rewarding Russian aggression, rather than punishing it for the terrible price it has inflicted upon them.

Image source, EPA

Turkey is ready to host ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, the country's president tells French President Emmanuel Macron.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement, reported by his presidential office, follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold "direct talks" with Ukraine in Istanbul.

This is not the first time Turkey has been host to Ukraine-Russia discussions, the delegations have previously met in Istanbul.

Our US State Department correspondent Tom Bateman attended one such meeting back in 2022 and said the meetings place "a bigger spotlight on Turkey's role".

Ukrainian President Zelensky says Ukraine "expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting, and reliable – starting tomorrow, 12 May, and Ukraine is ready to meet.”

Image source, Reuters

Turning our attention to the Vatican briefly, Pope Leo XIV has called on the world's major powers for "no more war" in his first Sunday message to crowds in St Peter's Square since being elected.

The new pontiff, chosen on 8 May, called for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine, as well as a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages.

You can read more about Pope Leo's first Sunday blessing and address in our news story.

Russia says its troops are carrying on with their “special military operation” now that the three-day ceasefire, from 8 to 10 May, has ended.

This comes after Ukraine urged Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting tomorrow.

Russia’s defence ministry also says Ukraine broke the three-day ceasefire more than 14,000 times - the ceasefire was unilaterally proposed by Russia, but Kyiv rejected it, calling it a "theatrical show".

Earlier, Ukraine has also accused Russia of breaking the truce, saying their troops were responding “appropriately”.

The BBC has not been able to verify the claims from either side.

Image source, Reuters

We've just heard a new response from Russia after Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky commented on ceasefire and peace talks.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says Ukraine hasn't understood Putin correctly.

According to her, Putin means there should first be negotiations about the "root causes" of the conflict, and only then can talks about a ceasefire happen.

Elsewhere, Russian foreign ministry ambassador-at-large Rodion Miroshnik says on Telegram that Zelensky proposing a ceasefire is only to rearm and regroup.