Trump Responds to Putin's Statement: 'Big Week Ahead'

"I will continue to work with Russia and Ukraine to end the war and negotiate peace," US President Donald Trump wrote on social media. This is a reaction to Vladimir Putin's statement, which proposed that peace negotiations be held on May 15 in Turkey. "A BIG week is coming!" Trump said.

"Potentially a great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved when this endless 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end," Trump wrote.

He added that he will "continue to work with both sides to make sure that happens."

"It will be a completely new and much better WORLD. (...) A GREAT week is coming! " - emphasized the US president, noting that his country wants to focus on "reconstruction and trade".

Russian leader Vladimir Putin proposed earlier on Sunday that Ukraine resume direct peace talks without preconditions. He said such talks could take place on May 15 in Istanbul. Putin stressed that Russia is proposing direct negotiations with Ukraine in order to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "restore long-term, lasting peace."

SEE: Vladimir Putin's Late Night Statement: Proposal for Direct Negotiations

On Saturday, Ukraine said it, along with its European and U.S. allies, agreed to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia. The countries in the "coalition of the willing," whose representatives visited Kiev that day, said that if the agreement was sabotaged or violated, Russia would face further "massive" and "coordinated" sanctions.