In a surprise address early Sunday at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed restarting peace negotiations with Ukraine, suggesting direct talks in Istanbul on May 15.
However, he made no mention of a separate ceasefire initiative unveiled just hours earlier by Ukraine and its European allies, which calls for a 30-day halt in hostilities starting Monday.
Putin urged Kyiv to return to the negotiation table, referencing previously suspended talks from 2022.
“We call on the Kyiv leadership to resume discussions unconditionally,” he said, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to engage without prerequisites.
Initial rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks had been held in Istanbul in the early phase of the war but failed to produce lasting results.
Putin said he planned to consult Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help facilitate the proposed meeting.
He reiterated Russia’s commitment to “meaningful negotiations” aimed at resolving what he described as the core causes of the war — a phrase the Kremlin often uses to criticize Ukraine’s Western alignment.
Though he hinted that a new ceasefire could emerge from such talks, Putin criticized the West for using ultimatums and promoting anti-Russian narratives, sidestepping the European-U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, writing on Truth Social, hailed the development as a “potentially great day” for both nations, promising ongoing engagement to see peace efforts succeed.
European leaders, however, were skeptical of Putin’s motives. French President Emmanuel Macron, returning from a high-level visit to Kyiv with the German, British, and Polish prime ministers, said Putin was attempting to stall. “A true ceasefire comes before talks — not the other way around,” he said.
During their Kyiv summit, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a ceasefire to begin immediately, warning of tough new sanctions if Russia refused.
The United States expressed strong support for the plan, with coordination already underway among 20 allied countries.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the coalition’s renewed unity as unprecedented, while European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the ceasefire must be unconditional and open the door to real peace efforts. The U.S. is expected to take the lead in monitoring the truce if implemented.
Putin had previously announced a short three-day unilateral truce for Russia’s WWII Victory Day commemorations, but Ukrainian sources on the frontlines said combat continued at usual levels despite the announcement.
