Moscow, May 11 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, shortly after Kyiv and European leaders called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. In a statement made after 1 a.m. in the Kremlin, Putin did not specifically address this ceasefire request but instead suggested resuming negotiations that Ukraine had previously halted in 2022. “We propose to the Kyiv authorities to resume the talks that they broke off in 2022, and, I emphasise, without any preconditions,” Putin stated.
The leaders of Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, and Poland, who convened in Kyiv on Saturday, warned Moscow of new sanctions and military assistance for Ukraine if it failed to comply with their ceasefire proposal. Initial talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul at the war’s outset did not result in an agreement to cease hostilities, which have continued since.
“We propose to start negotiations without delay on Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul,” Putin said, noting he would soon speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to seek his assistance in facilitating the discussions. He expressed a commitment to “serious negotiations with Ukraine,” aiming to “eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to establish a long-lasting peace.” Russia frequently cites “root causes” as grievances with Kyiv and the West, which it claims justify the war that began in February 2022. These grievances include aims to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, protect Russian speakers in the eastern region, oppose NATO expansion, and halt Ukraine’s westward geopolitical orientation. Kyiv and Western nations have dismissed these claims as mere pretexts for an imperial land grab.
Since the initiation of the conflict, tens of thousands have lost their lives, and millions have been displaced. Putin did not address the recent ceasefire proposal directly but acknowledged earlier comments from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who stated that Moscow would need to consider it. A unilateral three-day ceasefire previously declared by Russia, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, ended on Saturday, with Ukraine reporting multiple violations by Russian forces.
“We do not exclude that during these talks we will be able to agree on some new ceasefire,” said Putin, who also accused Ukraine’s Western allies of seeking to prolong the war. He criticized European “ultimatums” and “anti-Russian rhetoric” without mentioning the specific proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/putin-proposes-direct-talks-with-kyiv-in-istanbul-to-end-russia-ukraine-war
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Publish Date: 2025-05-11 11:58:00
