Asger Risom
Proposal Follows Western Ultimatum for 30-Day Ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed reopening direct peace talks with Ukraine, suggesting they begin on May 15 in Istanbul, according to Digi24.
The offer comes after EU and US leaders issued a joint ultimatum demanding an immediate 30-day ceasefire starting May 12, followed by negotiations or risk further sanctions and continued arms support for Ukraine.
Putin Pushes for Talks “Without Preconditions”
Putin stated the negotiations should resume where they were interrupted in 2022: “We propose to begin without delay, next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where discussions were previously held.”
He emphasized that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that withdrew from the talks in 2022. “We propose to resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said.
According to TASS, the Kremlin leader said discussions should aim to address the “root causes of the conflict” and “restore a durable and long-term peace.”
Europe and the US Await Kyiv’s Response
The announcement follows the previous day’s stern warning by European leaders visiting Kyiv. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, with US President Donald Trump’s backing, demanded Putin agree to a ceasefire or face new punitive measures.
While initially stating it received “contradictory signals” from Europe, the Kremlin later confirmed it would “reflect” on the ceasefire proposal but warned against external pressure on Moscow.
Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Moscow would send a delegation to the Istanbul talks but did not specify whether the group would include diplomats, military representatives, or both. A formal announcement is expected soon.