Putin Calls for Direct Peace Talks With Ukraine After Three Years of Conflict

Table of Contents

MOSCOW, May 11 (Reuters) — Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul, stating these talks should focus on achieving lasting peace and addressing the underlying issues fueling the conflict.

In February 2022, Putin dispatched thousands of soldiers into Ukraine, sparking a war This has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and triggered the most severe confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

He mentioned that Russia suggested holding direct discussions with Ukraine in Istanbul aimed at "addressing the fundamental issues driving the conflict" and "securing a sustainable and enduring peace," instead of merely pausing to rearm.

“Kyiv should restart direct talks without any preconditions,” Putin stated from the Kremlin late Saturday night. “We propose that the Kyiv leadership resumes negotiations as soon as this Thursday in Istanbul.”

In spite of the public and private pressures exerted by U.S. President Donald Trump and multiple cautions issued by European nations, Putin has presented minimal compromises aimed at resolving the conflict.

Putin mentioned that he planned to converse with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday regarding how they might ease tensions, potentially resulting in a truce.

As has been said, our proposal is on the table, and the decision now lies with the Ukrainian authorities along with their mentors, who appear to be driven by individual political aspirations rather than the welfare of their citizens.

No prompt reaction emerged from Kyiv regarding the suggestion, which arrived late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

Putin stated that Russia had suggested multiple ceasefires, such as halting attacks on energy sites, observing an Easter truce, and implementing a recent 72-hour pause coinciding with the commemoration of Victory Day’s 80th anniversary. However, he alleged that Ukraine consistently violated these ceasefires.

He stated that during the May ceasefire, Ukraine launched an assault using 524 airborne drones, 45 maritime drones, along with several Western missiles against Russia. He also mentioned that Russia successfully thwarted five incursions into their territorial areas.

Ukraine has charged Russia with breaching their ceasefire multiple times, alongside major European powers demanded on Saturday that Putin must accept an unconditional 30-day cease-fire or else confront "severe" additional sanctions.

Putin disregarded what he described as attempts by certain European nations to impose " ultimatums."

Peace?

Putin, whose troops have made significant progress during the last twelve months, remains steadfast in his demands for ceasing hostilities.

In June 2024, he stated that Ukraine needs to formally abandon its aspirations for joining NATO and remove all its forces from the complete area of the four Ukrainian territories that Russia claims.

Russian authorities have suggested that the United States acknowledge Russia’s dominion over approximately 20% of Ukraine and have insisted that Ukraine should remain non-aligned. However, Moscow has stated that it does not object to Kiev’s aspirations to become part of the European Union.

Putin particularly referenced the draft agreement from 2022 that Russia and Ukraine discussed following the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

According to the draft reviewed by Reuters, Ukraine would commit to perpetual neutrality in exchange for binding security assurances from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

It wasn’t Russia that terminated the talks in 2022; it was Kyiv," Putin stated. "Russia remains prepared to engage in discussions with absolutely no prerequisites.

He expressed gratitude to China, Brazil, African nations, and those from the Middle East as well as the United States for their mediation efforts.

Trump, who claims he wishes to be remembered as a peacemaker, has consistently stated that he aims to bring an end to the "carnage" of the Ukrainian conflict, which his administration characterizes as a proxy war involving both the United States and Russia.

Ex-US President Joe Biden, leaders from Western Europe, and Ukraine labeled the invasion as an attempt at territorial acquisition reminiscent of imperialism and consistently pledged to overcome Russian troops.

Putin frames the conflict as a turning point in Russia's relationship with the West, arguing that since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Western actions such as expanding NATO have humiliated Russia. He views this expansion along with interference in regions like Ukraine as infringements upon what he deems to be Russia’s rightful sphere of influence.

(Reporting by Marina Bobrova, Dmitry Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Anastasia Lyrchikova, and Felix Light; edited by Guy Faulconbridge and Lincoln Feast.)