Putin Proposes Direct Peace Talks With Ukraine After Three Years Of War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested holding direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 to work towards a lasting peace and addressing the root causes of the conflict. Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine earlier this year has resulted in a deadly war and escalated tensions between Russia and the West. Despite pressure from other world leaders, Putin has made few concessions to end the conflict. He has proposed various ceasefires, but accused Ukraine of violating them repeatedly. Putin emphasized the need for Kyiv to engage in negotiations without conditions and expressed readiness to discuss with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to facilitate the talks. The proposal awaits a response from Kyiv, with Putin standing firm on his conditions for ending the war, including Ukraine dropping its NATO ambitions and withdrawing troops from disputed territories. He also highlighted the 2022 draft deal that Russia and Ukraine had negotiated, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to negotiate without preconditions.