DE News Desk :
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for direct peace negotiations with Ukraine to be held in Istanbul on May 15, marking his most explicit offer in recent months to end the three-year-long conflict that has devastated both nations and reshaped global geopolitics.
Speaking from the Kremlin early Sunday morning, Putin said the proposed talks aim to address not just a ceasefire, but the deeper causes of the war, in hopes of securing what he described as a “durable and long-term peace.”
“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said. “Our proposal is on the table. The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their Western backers, who appear to be acting out of political self-interest rather than prioritizing peace.”
The Kremlin leader also stated he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later in the day to discuss Ankara’s role in facilitating the proposed talks.
Putin’s announcement comes as fighting continues to rage across eastern and southern Ukraine. Despite pressure from Western governments and international organizations for an unconditional ceasefire, the Russian president has held firm to long-standing demands, including Ukraine’s renunciation of NATO membership and withdrawal from four regions Moscow claims as Russian territory.
Kyiv has not yet officially responded to the latest proposal, which came in the early hours of Sunday. Ukrainian and Western leaders have consistently dismissed previous Russian conditions as unacceptable, insisting any peace must begin with a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
Putin accused Ukraine of violating past ceasefire offers, including a proposed truce during Orthodox Easter and a recent 72-hour pause to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. He claimed Ukraine launched hundreds of drone attacks and missile strikes during the temporary ceasefires.
In contrast, Kyiv and its allies have accused Moscow of repeatedly breaching its own ceasefire promises. On Saturday, several European nations renewed calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and warned of further sanctions if Russia failed to comply.
Putin rejected those appeals, calling them “ultimatums” and reiterating that Russia remains open to negotiations, referencing a 2022 draft agreement that would have required Ukraine to adopt a stance of permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
“It was not Russia that walked away from the 2022 negotiations—it was Kyiv,” Putin asserted.
The Russian president also expressed gratitude to countries including China, Brazil, and various African and Middle Eastern states for their mediation efforts. He mentioned former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a potential broker of peace, contrasting his stance with that of President Joe Biden and other Western leaders, whom Putin accused of pursuing a policy of containment and confrontation.
Putin continues to frame the war as a pivotal confrontation between Russia and the West, blaming NATO’s eastward expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union for creating the conditions that led to war.
As of now, no confirmation has been made from Ukrainian officials or the Turkish government regarding the proposed talks.