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Putin Proposes Direct Peace Talks With Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for direct peace talks with Ukraine to be held on May 15 in Istanbul, signaling the most serious diplomatic overture from the Kremlin in months amid the ongoing war.

Speaking early Sunday from Moscow, Putin urged Kyiv to return to the negotiating table without preconditions, saying the aim should be more than a temporary ceasefire. “We propose to resume direct negotiations to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and achieve a durable and lasting peace,” he stated.

The proposal comes more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has led to massive casualties and ruptured Moscow’s relations with the West.

Although Russia has previously expressed openness to dialogue, those offers often came with conditions seen by Ukraine and its allies as non-starters. This time, Putin’s message appeared notably more conciliatory, a move many analysts view as an attempt to regain diplomatic momentum amid growing Western pressure.

Putin said he planned to consult Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later in the day to request Ankara’s renewed role as a mediator. Turkey hosted unsuccessful negotiations between the two countries in 2022.

Accusing Ukraine and its Western partners of prioritizing “political self-interest” over peace, Putin declared, “Our proposal is on the table. The decision now lies with the authorities in Kyiv and their sponsors.”

While world leaders — including U.S. President Donald Trump and several European heads of state — have increasingly advocated for a negotiated settlement, Ukraine remains firm in its position: talks cannot proceed until Russian troops withdraw and full territorial sovereignty is restored.

The Ukrainian government has yet to officially respond to the Kremlin’s proposal.

Putin’s overture follows a period of heightened violence and failed ceasefires. A recent three-day unilateral truce declared by Russia was dismissed by Ukraine as a “performative gesture” amid continued hostilities. The proposal to meet in Istanbul could now test both sides’ willingness to engage in serious negotiations after years of war.

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