Moscow/Kyiv, May 11 – In a significant diplomatic overture, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed holding direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 without any preconditions. The announcement was cautiously welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who underscored that Russia must first agree to a full ceasefire starting May 12.
Putin stated that the proposed talks aim to “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” and lay the foundation for a “long-term, durable peace.” Stressing the urgency of dialogue, he said, “We would like to start talks immediately, already next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held before and where they were interrupted.”
The Russian president firmly rejected the demand for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, citing Ukraine’s alleged history of violating previous truces, including a moratorium on energy infrastructure attacks brokered by former US President Donald Trump and the recent Easter truce.
Putin recalled earlier negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Belarus and Istanbul in 2022, which he claimed had led to a joint agreement. He alleged that the draft was later scrapped after a visit from then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy responded to Putin’s offer with cautious optimism, stating that the initiation of talks was a “positive sign,” but made it clear that a ceasefire is non-negotiable. “The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
Ukraine has consistently called for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia maintains that such a pause would allow Ukraine and its Western allies to regroup militarily. The Kremlin has expressed concerns that this could lead to a renewed offensive against Russian forces.
“This will be a trap for Russia,” said Russian Senator Alexi Pushkov, arguing that Ukraine would use the ceasefire to replenish its arsenal with help from European partners.
Earlier in the day, the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland stood in solidarity with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, urging Moscow to accept a ceasefire beginning Monday or face potential “massive sanctions.”
Former US President Donald Trump also weighed in, endorsing Putin’s offer and expressing hope for a resolution. “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved… I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens.”
As diplomatic efforts intensify, all eyes are now on Moscow’s next move and whether a ceasefire can be secured ahead of the proposed Istanbul talks.