In a surprising announcement late Saturday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to engage in “direct talks” with Kyiv, proposing a meeting in Istanbul on Thursday, May 15. Putin stated, “We propose to resume direct talks with the Kyiv regime on Thursday, 15 May, in Istanbul,” during a rare address.
Putin’s call for talks without preconditions
The Russian leader emphasized the necessity of these discussions, suggesting they be conducted “without preconditions.” He articulated that the aim of the talks is to address the “root causes of the conflict” and to facilitate the restoration of a lasting peace between the two nations.
Previously, Moscow had indicated that it might entertain a ceasefire agreement but only under specific conditions, such as a complete halt to Western military support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian ceasefire proposal and European support
Putin’s offer follows a call from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire commencing from May 12. On Saturday, leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland expressed their backing for a ceasefire that was to start on Monday, citing prior discussions with Trump.
This united stance from European leaders represented a significant show of solidarity with Ukraine, as they warned of potential sanctions against Putin should he decline their proposal. Their visit to Kyiv marked a historic moment, being the first official visit of Friedrich Merz as Germany’s new chancellor alongside other European leaders.
In the preceding month, ahead of the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Putin had declared a unilateral temporary ceasefire from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11. Despite this declaration, reports indicated that hostilities did not cease, with both sides blaming each other for continued violence.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the ceasefire as a “farce,” claiming that Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians and front-line positions persisted. In his address, Putin, however, accused Ukraine of escalating assaults against Russia prior to his proclaimed truce, alleging multiple violations of the ceasefire, including five cross-border incursions into the Kursk and Belgorod regions, which he described as holding “no military significance.”