Putin Urges Immediate Direct Negotiations with Ukraine

In a rare televised address, Putin's call for negotiations comes as European leaders advocate for ceasefire discussions.

In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for "direct talks" with Ukraine, aiming to initiate discussions "without delay, as early as 15 May." He made this statement during a late-night broadcast from the Kremlin, emphasizing the need for serious negotiations to address the foundational issues of the ongoing conflict and pave the way toward lasting peace.

Putin's appeal for dialogue comes on the heels of a visit by European leaders, including the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, to Ukraine. During this meeting, the leaders urged Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire that would last for 30 days. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded cautiously to this proposition, stating that Moscow would need to consider the request but warned against any attempts to pressure Russia, characterizing such actions as futile.

In his address, Putin expressed his openness to potential agreements concerning new ceasefires during the proposed talks, which he suggested might take place in Istanbul, Turkey. He announced plans to consult Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to finalize the details of the arrangement. As of now, the Ukrainian government has yet to respond to Putin's proposal.

The European leaders' visit to the Ukrainian capital aimed to strengthen efforts for peace, with the leaders collectively threatening "massive" sanctions against Russia if it does not adhere to the proposed ceasefire. Following discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially suggested the ceasefire, the coalition reinforced their commitment to support Ukraine.

Following this diplomatic overture, Sir Keir urged Putin to take the opportunity to prove his commitment to peace. President Zelensky of Ukraine expressed gratitude for the international support, focusing on the need for genuine and enduring security.

During his address, Putin argued that the ongoing conflict should not escalate further and questioned the need for a hollow peace following military escalations. He highlighted Ukraine's perceived failure to respond to previous ceasefire offers, stressing, "In spite of everything, we are offering the Kyiv authorities to resume the negotiations... resume direct talks, and I stress, without any preconditions." The last direct negotiations between the two nations occurred shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion began over three years ago.