Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed restarting peace negotiations with Ukraine, suggesting a face-to-face meeting take place on May 15 in Istanbul.
This announcement came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and four European leaders jointly called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to begin on May 12.
Late Saturday night, Putin addressed the situation, stating, “We propose to resume direct talks with the Kyiv regime on Thursday, 15 May, in Istanbul.”
He emphasized that the talks would proceed “without preconditions,” aiming “to eliminate the root causes of the conflict” and “to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace.”
In contrast to earlier stances, when Moscow insisted that any ceasefire be contingent on the suspension of Western military assistance to Ukraine, this latest proposal signals a potential shift in Russia’s approach to negotiations.
