Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed holding direct peace negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul, Turkey.
He stated that the talks should aim to establish a lasting peace and address the underlying causes of the war.
The conflict began in February 2022 when Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine, sparking a war that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military casualties and brought Russia into its most serious standoff with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Speaking from the Kremlin early Sunday, Putin emphasized that the goal of the proposed negotiations is not a temporary pause to allow rearmament, but rather to resolve the conflict`s core issues and achieve a sustainable peace.
"We propose that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions," Putin said. "We are ready for talks as early as Thursday in Istanbul."
Despite ongoing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and repeated appeals from European leaders, Putin has so far shown little willingness to make significant concessions to end the war.
He also noted that he plans to speak with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday to discuss facilitating the talks, which could potentially lead to a ceasefire.
“Our offer is on the table,” Putin said. “It is now up to the Ukrainian leadership and their backers, who appear to be driven more by political ambitions than by the true interests of their people.”
As of now, neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office nor Ukraine’s foreign ministry has responded to Reuters` request for comment on the proposal.
