Putin Expresses Readiness for Direct Talks with Ukraine Amid Renewed Calls for Ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his readiness for direct negotiations with Ukraine, reports Orda.kz.

Putin made the statement during a late-night meeting with journalists in the Kremlin on May 11, following events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory.

We propose to begin without delay – next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held earlier and were interrupted,
Putin said. 

He emphasized that the proposal includes a ceasefire “without any preconditions” and mentioned plans to discuss the organization of talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 11.

We do not rule out that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree on a new ceasefire – and a real truce,
he added. 

Erdoğan later held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed his willingness to assist in organizing and hosting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

Based on the summary of the conversation released by Russian state media, a ceasefire does not appear to have been discussed.

The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a joint statement by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom on his Telegram channel, following their meeting in Kyiv held within the framework of the “coalition of the willing.”

The statement called for a complete and unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days from Monday, May 12, to “create space for diplomacy.”

The proposed truce is intended to be comprehensive, covering land, air, and sea. Following Putin's statement, Zelenskyy welcomed Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday, but stated that his team expects Moscow to commit to a “lasting” ceasefire beginning tomorrow.

On May 10, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with CNN, responded to the European and Ukrainian ceasefire initiative by stating that Russia needs to "think about" it, but remains "resistant" to pressure.

At the same time, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Washington needs to see “concrete proposals from both sides” to “move forward” in the peace process.

Trump, in his traditional fashion, commented on Truth Social:

Trump has also purportedly supported the ceasefire plan proposed during the May 10 talks in Kyiv, reports Politico, citing sources.

According to the outlet, French President Emmanuel Macron phoned Trump during the discussions in Kyiv to brief him on the meeting’s progress.

Trump reportedly agreed to support the European-led initiative. Following the meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a joint statement, in which the coalition called for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine lasting at least 30 days, starting on May 12.

The document also states that tougher sanctions targeting its banking and energy sectors will follow if Russia refuses to implement a complete ceasefire.

Trump’s special representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, voiced support for Zelenskyy’s position as well.

Kellogg urged Moscow to commit to a prolonged ceasefire before entering negotiations in Istanbul. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed Türkiye's readiness to host direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. According to Hurriyet, he made the statement during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

President Erdoğan stated during the conversation that a historic turning point has been reached on the path toward ending the war between Ukraine and Russia, that this opportunity must not be missed, and that Turkey is ready to do everything possible — including hosting the negotiations — to help secure a ceasefire and lasting peace,  the message said.

Commenting on Putin’s announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron also said:

Original Author: Rustam Muratov