Russia expresses readiness for face-to-face discussions with Ukraine, as stated by Vladimir Putin.
In a unexpected move last night, President Putin addressed the media from the Kremlin, recapping the four-day long celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War victory, and proposed resuming talks with Ukraine. The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow has never shied away from dialogue with Kyiv, it was the Ukrainian side who paused negotiations in Istanbul back in March 2022. Putin suggested restarting negotiations at the same location, Istanbul, with a meeting scheduled for May 15th. He highlighted that successful negotiations could lead to a ceasefire and lasting peace.
Putin's statement was a response to the the Ukrainian side, with President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting on a full and lasting ceasefire before any talks could take place. This stance was also backed by France, the UK, Germany, and Poland.
This isn't the first time Putin has proposed dialogue. In March 2022, the last face-to-face meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegations happened in Istanbul. However, that was before Russia's annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, an event that led Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a decree making it impossible to negotiate with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin remains its president.
Prior to the press conference, President Putin had a call with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish side fully supported Putin's proposal for Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, offering Istanbul as a platform for the meeting and providing support for organizing and conducting the talks aimed at achieving sustainable peace.
It is worth mentioning that after Russia's annexation of the mentioned territories, talks between the two countries seem to have stalled. In March of this year, negotiations between Russia and the US in Riyadh to resolve the Ukrainian conflict ended without a joint statement, and the US and UK refused to attend talks in London in April due to Kyiv's stance on Crimea.
French MEP Thierry Mariani believes that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine are the answer to resolving the conflict. He suggests we should take inspiration from the landmark Helsinki Accords of 1975, which brought peace to Europe. Mariani also notes his understanding of Russia's concerns about arms sales to Ukraine during a ceasefire, a point that was brought up during talks with the US and Russia back in April.
Sources:- Vedomosti- Our website- CNN- BBC News- Reuters- Politico
As reported by our website, the history of Russia-Ukraine negotiations since March 2022 has been a series of events and international reactions that have shaped the conflict:
Timeline and Key Events
Pre-Invasion (Late 2021 to February 2022)
- Russia masses troops near Ukraine's borders and issues demands, including a ban on Ukraine joining NATO.
- Putin recognizes the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic as independent states, paving the way for military intervention.
Invasion and Initial Response (February to March 2022)
- Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine, marking the beginning of the invasion.
- The international community imposes sanctions on Russia and begins providing military aid to Ukraine.
Diplomatic Efforts (March to April 2022)
- Initial diplomatic efforts, including a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Belarus, but no significant breakthroughs were achieved.
- The United Nations and other international organizations call for ceasefires and humanitarian aid.
Continued Conflict and International Involvement (2022-2023)
- The conflict escalates with ongoing military operations. The United States, European Union, and other international actors continue to provide financial and military support to Ukraine.
Recent Developments (2024-2025)
- Putin orders a 30-hour truce, which Ukraine proposes extending to a 30-day ceasefire. However, the truce is unlikely to hold due to continued military operations.
- The United States seeks a peace deal within the first 100 days of President Trump's administration, proposing recognition of Russian control over Crimea, which Ukraine strongly opposes.
International Reactions
- Sanctions and Aid: The international community, particularly Western countries, have imposed significant economic sanctions on Russia and provided substantial military and financial aid to Ukraine.
- Diplomatic Efforts: The United Nations and other international organizations have called for ceasefires and humanitarian aid, with ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
- Peace Proposals: Recent proposals, such as the U.S. initiative to secure a peace deal within Trump's first 100 days, face challenges due to differing positions on Crimea and other issues.
In the face of continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the question of resuming talks has surfaced once more. As reported by our website, the ongoing dialogue between the two nations has been marked by various events and international reactions since March 2022, with I'm not sure if successful negotiations will lead to a lasting peace. The recent proposal by President Putin to restart negotiations in Istanbul, echoing his previous attempts in March 2022, comes amidst international pressure for a resolution, with politics and general news surrounding the war-and-conflicts playing significant roles in shaping the discourse.
