President Vladimir Putin on Sunday night addressed journalists with a statement on the results of four days of international meetings during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory Day. In the statement, the president suggested that Ukraine immediately resume direct talks in Istanbul.
Vladimir Putin in a night address on May 11 suggested resuming direct talks with Ukraine, interrupted in the spring of 2022 after the Istanbul round. At that time, according to the Russian president, the Kyiv delegation stopped participating in the consultations and a previously agreed draft agreement was rejected under pressure from EU and US partners, according to Moscow.
“We are set for serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their meaning is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict, to reach the establishment of long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective,” the president said.
According to him, the negotiations should become the basis for sustainable peace, not just a temporary ceasefire before a new phase of the conflict.
Ceasefire violations
Putin said Russia had repeatedly proposed ceasefire regimes, but the Ukrainian side had violated them. He said Kyiv had thwarted three attempts to establish ceasefires, including the latest, a three-day ceasefire timed to coincide with Victory Day celebrations.
Putin reiterated that Russia has never abandoned dialogue with the Ukrainian side and reminded that “it was not us who broke off the negotiations in 2022, it was the Ukrainian side that did it.”
“In this regard, no matter what, we propose to the Kyiv authorities to resume the talks they interrupted in 2022. And, I emphasise, without any preconditions. Our proposal, as they call it, is on the table. The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their handlers,” Putin added.
Turkey’s role
Putin said that negotiations between the parties were already underway in Istanbul in 2022, and at that time, he said, “a joint draft document was prepared and initialed by the head of the Kyiv negotiating group.” But later it “was simply thrown into the basket at the insistence of the West.”
Putin intends to discuss the organisation of new talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan as early as May 11.
The Turkish president, he said, had played an important role in previous rounds of talks.
“I hope that he will confirm his desire to contribute to the search for peace in Ukraine,” Putin hoped.
The Russian president also thanked other countries for their efforts towards a peaceful settlement, including China, Brazil, countries in Africa and the Middle East, as well as the new US administration, noting that all these states are “sincerely striving to end the conflict.”
80th Anniversary of Victory
Part of the speech was devoted to the anniversary of the victory in World War II. Putin expressed gratitude to foreign leaders who visited Moscow on May 9 despite external pressure and threats.
“We understand the massive pressure they faced, and therefore we sincerely appreciate their political courage and firm moral position,” the Russian president said, noting the visits of the leaders of Serbia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also recalled the contribution of allies in the anti-Hitler coalition and participants in liberation movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America: “We honour all those who contributed to the common victory over Nazism.”
World reaction: Trump pleased, Europe says ” it is not enough”
The 47th President of the US Donald Trump was clearly pleased with Vladimir Putin’s proposal, calling the Russian leader’s speech “a great day for Russia and Ukraine.” The Republican said he would “continue to work with both sides” for peace to come.
“A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending “bloodbath” hopefully comes to an end. It will be a whole new, and much better, WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted to Putin’s proposal to resume direct talks without preconditions. The Ukrainian head of state believes that “this is a good sign.”
“Everyone in the world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in really ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killings even for a day. We expect Russia to confirm the ceasefire – complete, lasting and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” the Ukrainian President wrote in his Telegram.
Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine is a “first step, but it is not enough,” French leader Emmanuel Macron has said.
“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations,” he told reporters en route from Kyiv. According to Macron, the Russian side is “looking for a way out but still wants to buy time.”
World media reaction
Reuters notes that Putin does not rule out agreements on “some new truces, a new ceasefire,” but one that would be the first step towards a “sustainable” peace. “Putin, whose efforts have moved forward over the past year, is firmly sticking to his conditions for ending the conflict. Zelensky’s administration and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the proposal.”
GB News considers the Russian president’s speech significant and noted that he “paved the way” for possible negotiations with Ukraine. The Sun shares this view, believing that “Putin has opened the door to negotiations.” The Washington Examiner suggested that Putin’s speech contained “a hint of a ceasefire.”
The Guardian believes that Putin “effectively rejected the ultimatum of European leaders who demanded a 30-day truce.” The Spanish newspapers Vanguardia and El Mundo share this view, writing that Putin “openly rejected the 30-day truce.”
Bloomberg concludes that “Putin did not indicate whether Russia agreed to the ceasefire plan put forward by Kyiv. The Russian leader’s refusal will lead to new sanctions targeting the energy and financial sectors.”
CNN reminds us that “Ukraine has been saying for two months that it wants an immediate 30-day ceasefire, a position promoted by Kyiv’s key European allies. On Sunday, Putin denied reports that Moscow had refused to talk with Kyiv and said the decision was now up to the Ukrainian authorities.”
