During his address on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward a proposal for one-on-one talks with Ukraine to take place in Istanbul on May 15. He said the purpose of these discussions would be to secure a lasting peace and address the root issues that led to the ongoing war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by stating that he is willing to meet Putin in person for direct negotiations.
Putin’s decision to deploy thousands of Russian soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022 triggered what became the most severe standoff between Russia and Western powers since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Push for New Peace Talks in Istanbul
The Russian leader explained that his government is seeking to begin direct talks with Kyiv to bring long-term peace and stop what caused the conflict in the first place. Putin also said that Moscow was not the one that stopped the past negotiations.
According to him, Ukraine ended the talks back in 2022, shortly after Russian forces entered the country. Even though earlier discussions failed, Putin maintained that Russia is still open to peace talks.
He offered that the Ukrainian government could resume talks without needing to meet any conditions beforehand. He said Thursday in Istanbul would be a suitable date for both sides to meet.
He went further to say that Russia has already made its offer clear and is now waiting on Ukraine’s decision. He added that it seemed like Ukraine and its backers are more focused on their political goals than what is good for the people they represent.
European Leaders Join Push for Ceasefire
Several major European governments, along with former President Donald Trump, have voiced their support for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. On Saturday, they warned Putin that he would face stronger sanctions if he failed to agree quickly to the peace push.
Trump has often expressed his interest in ending the war. He says he wants to be remembered as someone who brought peace and has described the war as a terrible “bloodbath” that needs to stop. His administration has also framed the situation as a conflict between the U.S. and Russia being fought through Ukraine.
Former President Joe Biden, leaders from Western Europe, and Ukraine have constantly said the invasion was about land control and power. They believe Russia’s goal is to take over territory, and they have all promised to continue pushing back against Russia’s military actions.
Putin’s View of Russia’s Conflict with the West
From Putin’s point of view, the war represents a major turning point in how Moscow deals with Western countries. He has argued that the West treated Russia unfairly after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
He pointed to NATO’s expansion and what he calls interference in areas like Ukraine that Russia still considers important to its interests.
