Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed direct peace negotiations with Ukraine to be held on May 15 in Istanbul, aiming to secure what he described as a “long-term, lasting peace” and address the root causes of a war that has devastated the region since 2022.
In a nationally broadcast address from the Kremlin during the early hours of Sunday, Putin called on Kyiv to enter discussions without preconditions, saying Moscow is prepared to negotiate directly in pursuit of a durable resolution to the conflict.
“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin stated. “We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.”
The Russian leader’s remarks come more than three years after he ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022, sparking a war that has left hundreds of thousands dead and reignited Cold War-era tensions between Russia and the West. The conflict has triggered sweeping sanctions, military escalations, and what many analysts describe as the gravest East-West confrontation since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Despite mounting international pressure, including from U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders, Putin has made few concessions to date. Instead, he used Sunday’s address to reiterate Moscow’s readiness to talk—but on its own terms.
“Our proposal, as they say, is on the table, the decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples,” Putin added.
Putin said he plans to speak with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan later on Sunday to discuss the logistics of hosting the proposed talks in Istanbul. So far, Ukraine has not issued a formal response to the proposal.
The Russian president also alleged that Moscow had made multiple overtures for temporary ceasefires—including during Easter, energy facility strikes, and World War II Victory Day commemorations—but claimed Ukraine had violated each one.
He said Ukraine had attacked Russia with “524 aerial drones, 45 sea drones,” and launched a number of Western-supplied missiles, while Russian forces repelled five separate offensives on Russian territory during the most recent truce.
Kyiv, meanwhile, has consistently accused Moscow of violating its own ceasefire declarations. On Saturday, Ukraine and key European allies called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, warning of “massive” new sanctions if Russia fails to comply. Putin dismissed these appeals as unrealistic.
“Ultimatums,” he said, are not conducive to peace.
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In recent years, Russia has maintained its core demands for ending the war, including Ukraine renouncing its NATO aspirations and withdrawing from territories claimed by Russia in four Ukrainian regions. Moscow has also proposed a U.S. recognition of Russian control over about 20% of Ukrainian territory and insisted that Ukraine adopt a neutral stance—though not necessarily opposing Kyiv’s EU ambitions.
Putin referenced a 2022 draft agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, details of which were reviewed by Reuters, under which Ukraine would declare permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
“It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv,” Putin said. “Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions.”
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The Russian president expressed appreciation for diplomatic efforts by China, Brazil, African and Middle Eastern countries, and even the United States.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said he seeks to end the war if re-elected, continues to frame the Ukraine conflict as a costly proxy war between Washington and Moscow. In contrast, President Joe Biden and key European leaders view Russia’s invasion as an unjustified act of aggression, describing it as a modern imperialist land grab that must be repelled.
Putin, however, sees the war as a defining chapter in Russia’s post-Soviet identity, claiming that NATO’s expansion and Western policies left Moscow with no choice but to assert its influence, especially in Ukraine, which he views as part of Russia’s historical sphere.
