Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday night that he proposes the reopening of „direct negotiations interrupted in 2022” to Kiev, without any preconditions. He proposes starting these negotiations in Istanbul on May 15.
"We aim to start without delay, as early as next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul. Where negotiations have taken place before and were interrupted," Putin told reporters accredited to the Kremlin. According to TASS, the Kremlin leader emphasized that the discussions - failed in March 2022 - should be resumed from where they were interrupted.
"It was not Russia that interrupted the negotiations in 2022. It was Kiev. Nevertheless, we propose to Kiev to resume direct negotiations without any preconditions," Putin said, referring to the failed negotiations shortly after the Russian invasion in 2022.
According to Reuters, Putin said that negotiations must aim at "eliminating the root causes of the conflict" and "restoring a durable and long-term peace."
Putin views the war in Ukraine as a decisive moment in Moscow's relations with the West, which he says has humiliated Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 by expanding NATO and invading what he considers to be Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.
"We offer the authorities in Kiev to resume negotiations as early as Thursday in Istanbul," Putin specified. "Our proposal, as they say, is on the table, the decision now belongs to the Ukrainian authorities and their sponsors, who seem to be guided by their personal political ambitions, not the interests of their peoples," added the Kremlin leader.
Trump's Reaction
The US President, Donald Trump, reacted to Vladimir Putin's announcement, stating that it could be a "big day" for Russia and Ukraine.
"A day that could be a big one for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this endless 'bloodbath' comes to an end. It will be a whole new and much better WORLD.
"I will continue to work with both sides to ensure this happens. An IMPORTANT week is ahead!," Trump wrote on his network, Truth Social.
Macron: Putin Seeks to Gain Time
French President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, stated that Putin's proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine is "a first step, but not enough."
"An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations. Putin is looking for a way out, but wants to gain time," Macron told reporters at the Polish-Ukrainian border, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).
Ultimatum for Putin
The Russian leader made the announcement after convening the press, after midnight, officially to make statements following the events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in World War II.
- EU Leaders Called Trump from Kiev for Immediate Ceasefire. Medvedev: "Shove Your Peace Plans of All Kinds Up Your Rear"
- Trump Changes Tone Towards Putin, under Macron and Starmer's Pressure. But Will He Stick to It?
The statements came as the three-day unilateral ceasefire declared in the war in Ukraine had expired at midnight, and at the opening of the press discussion, Putin accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire established in March-April over 130 times for 30 days, and at Easter, Moscow's 30-hour ceasefire was violated about 5,000 times.
On Saturday, the European leaders considered to be the strongest allies of Kiev - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk - with the support of Donald Trump, gave Putin an ultimatum, urging him to accept a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, May 12, and to sit at the negotiation table; otherwise, the West would increase sanctions and continue supplying arms to Ukraine.
Initially complaining that it received "contradictory" signals from Europe, the Kremlin ultimately conveyed on Saturday that it would "reflect" on the ceasefire proposal in Ukraine put forward by Western allies of Kiev, but warned that it was "futile" to "pressure Moscow."
Russia will be represented at the Istanbul talks by a delegation, but who will be part of it will be announced later, Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov told reporters. "A delegation will go from our side," the diplomat said when asked who would attend the Istanbul talks. When asked if diplomats or military personnel would represent Russia at the Istanbul talks, Ushakov said, "This will be announced," according to the TASS agency.