After more than three years of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended a surprising olive branch to Ukraine by proposing direct peace negotiations. Speaking early Sunday morning from the Kremlin, Putin announced his willingness to meet Ukrainian officials in Istanbul on May 15 to discuss a “durable” peace—without any preconditions.
The war, which began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and the most severe East-West confrontation since the Cold War. With Russian forces steadily advancing and Ukrainian defenses still holding key territories, hopes for an end to the conflict have seemed remote—until now.
In his late-night televised statement, Putin said:
“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions. We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded on social media, cautiously welcoming the proposal but emphasizing that a ceasefire must come first.
“This is a positive sign, but the very first step to ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelenskiy wrote. “We expect Russia to confirm a full, lasting, and reliable ceasefire starting May 12. Ukraine is ready to meet.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a potential peacemaker, called the news a turning point.
“A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the lives that could be saved if this never-ending bloodbath ends,” he posted on Truth Social.
Putin’s proposal follows mounting international pressure. On Saturday, European leaders in Kyiv demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire from Russia, warning of “massive” sanctions otherwise. Putin, however, dismissed their demands as ultimatums.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the talks as a first step but said it was not enough without an immediate ceasefire.
“An unconditional ceasefire should not be preceded by negotiations. Peace needs to start now,” Macron said.
Despite these discussions, hostilities have continued. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding regions on Sunday, injuring at least one civilian and damaging property. Moscow claimed these were defensive actions in response to Ukrainian assaults during previous ceasefires.
Putin stated that the talks must also address the root causes of the conflict. He plans to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about facilitating the discussions in Istanbul.
“Our proposal is on the table. The decision now lies with Ukrainian authorities and their international backers,” he added.
Putin remains firm on several demands, including that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions claimed by Russia. He also referenced a draft deal from 2022 in which Ukraine would agree to neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
“It wasn’t Russia that abandoned negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv,” Putin asserted. “Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions.”
With global interest high and stakes even higher, the world watches closely as Thursday approaches. Could this truly be the beginning of peace, or just another chapter in a long, drawn-out conflict?
