May 15 Istanbul Showdown: Putin Offers Direct Talks with Kyiv, Disregarding 30-Day Ceasefire Call
Discussions for direct dialogue initiated by Putin with Kiev
In a surprise move, Vladimir Putin has proposed a face-to-face with the Ukrainian authorities, slated for May 15 in Istanbul, undermining the recent plea for a 30-day truce from Ukraine and its allies.
The Russian president, during his interview with journalists in the Kremlin, extended an invitation for "serious negotiations without preconditions," and noted, "We're open to discussing the elimination of the deep-rooted issues causing this conflict."
Ukraine and its European supporters had earlier voiced their demand for an unconditional ceasefire, backed by US President Donald Trump, starting Monday. However, Putin's proposal, made over the weekend, failed to address this urgent call.
Instead, he pointed a finger at "Kyiv" for breaking off negotiations in 2022, rather than Russia, and asserted, "It was Ukraine that ended the previous talks, driven by their personal political ambitions, not the interests of their people."
Meanwhile, Russian officials have shared a mixed response to the demand for a 30-day ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Russia is considering the proposal but expressed it as "pointless" to mount pressure on Moscow.
In light of this fresh development, Putin is set to converse with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to discuss the possible logistics of this high-stakes negotiating table in Istanbul.
It's been more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine and currently holds approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. This includes the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.
- Attack on Ukraine
- Invasion of Crimea
- Vladimir Putin
- Talks and Negotiations
- Ceasefire Demands
- Despite the demand for a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin announced he will not be bound by such preconditions, proposing instead direct talks with Kyiv on May 15.
- The community policy of Russia regarding the free movement of workers and freedom of movement seems to disregard the general-news call for a ceasefire, as Putin suggested serious negotiations without any preconditions.
- During the politics surrounding the recent showdown in Istanbul, Putin put forward an offer for talks with the Ukrainian authorities, overlooking the plea for a war-and-conflicts truce from Ukraine and its allies.
- Despite Ukraine and its European supporters backing the 30-day ceasefire proposal of US President Donald Trump, Putin's proposed talks with Kyiv, for eliminating the deep-rooted issues causing conflict, stand as a stark refusal to abide by the ceasefire demands.
