Putin Calls for Direct Ukraine Talks, Ignores 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed resuming direct negotiations with Ukraine but remained silent on a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposal backed by European leaders and the United States.
Putin, speaking from the Kremlin early Sunday, suggested a meeting in Istanbul on May 15, urging Kyiv to return to talks “without any preconditions.”
He said he would reach out to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help facilitate the discussions.
“We propose to the Kyiv authorities to resume the talks that they broke off in 2022. We are committed to serious negotiations… to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to establish a long-lasting peace,” Putin stated.
The proposal came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv.
The leaders had jointly urged Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, warning of increased sanctions if it failed to comply.
Putin did not acknowledge the ceasefire proposal in his speech but criticised what he called “ultimatums” and “anti-Russian rhetoric” from the West. He accused Ukraine’s allies of wanting to prolong the war.
“We do not exclude that during these talks we will be able to agree on some new ceasefire,” Putin added.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the possibility of talks, calling it “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” on his Truth Social platform. He pledged to work with both sides to ensure progress.
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Macron, however, remained sceptical. Speaking from Poland after leaving Kyiv, he warned that Putin’s latest move might be a ploy to “buy time.”
“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations, by definition,” he said.
The five leaders in Kyiv, along with 20 other nations in a video conference, announced a unified stance, stating that the ceasefire must begin Monday with no conditions. Violations, they warned, would trigger coordinated sanctions from both Europe and the U.S.
UK Prime Minister Starmer highlighted the global unity around the ceasefire plan, while Poland’s Tusk said, “For the first time in a long time, we had a feeling that the whole free world is truly united.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also endorsed the ceasefire, stating it should pave the way for meaningful peace talks. Monitoring will mainly be handled by the United States, with Europe also playing a role.
Putin’s call for talks came a day after Russia held a military parade in Moscow to mark 80 years since Nazi Germany’s defeat. Despite a unilateral three-day Russian truce for the event, Ukrainian troops reported no let-up in fighting.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
