Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested direct discussions with Ukraine, set to take place in Istanbul on May 15. He spoke of these talks as being “without preconditions” with the aim of securing “lasting peace” and “eliminating the root causes” of the ongoing conflict, which has spanned three years.
The proposal was made early on Sunday, following a call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, starting Monday, which came from the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom. These leaders, who convened in Kyiv, received backing from United States President Donald Trump and threatened substantial new sanctions against Moscow should their proposal be rejected.
Putin did not directly address the ceasefire call but criticized European “ultimatums” and “anti-Russian rhetoric” as he presented his proposal for revived negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. He stated that he would be in discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about facilitating the talks, with no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously expressed willingness for peace talks, contingent on the establishment of a ceasefire.
The conflict, initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, represents the most significant confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Direct talks in Istanbul early in the conflict failed to stop the fighting.
Putin emphasized his goal of not only pausing the conflict but achieving a permanent resolution. He admitted that a ceasefire might be negotiated during these talks. Despite facing pressure from Trump and European powers, Putin has offered little in terms of concessions and remains staunch in his demands for ending the war.
Among these demands is Ukraine’s official abandonment of NATO aspirations and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions claimed by Russia. Moscow also proposes that the US recognize its control over approximately one-fifth of Ukraine and insists that Ukraine remain neutral, though not opposed to joining the European Union.
Putin referred to a 2022 draft agreement from the Istanbul talks, wherein Ukraine would agree to permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Ukraine and Russia have both accused each other of violating ceasefire agreements. Earlier in the day, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the UK visited Ukraine, a gesture President Zelenskyy deemed significant.
Following their meeting, they issued a statement urging an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday, meant to pave the way for diplomatic efforts to conclude the war. Macron stated that the US would oversee the proposed ceasefire, backed by European countries, and warned of “massive sanctions” should Russia breach the ceasefire.
Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, suggested that a “comprehensive” 30-day ceasefire across various domains could initiate the process of ending the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Trump, who portrays himself as a peacemaker, has repeatedly emphasized his desire to end the Ukrainian conflict, described by his administration as a proxy war between the US and Russia. Conversely, former US President Joe Biden, Western European leaders, and Ukraine view the invasion as an imperial land grab and have pledged to defeat Russian forces.
Putin perceives the war as a critical juncture in Moscow’s relations with the West, citing historical grievances including the expansion of NATO and encroachment on Russia’s sphere of influence, particularly in Ukraine.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/11/putin-proposes-direct-russia-ukraine-talks-in-istanbul-on-may-15?traffic_source=rss
