On Sunday, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s commitment to resume direct talks with Ukraine to seek an end to the ongoing conflict, proposing that discussions begin on May 15 in Turkey without any preconditions. He highlighted past frustrations with Ukraine’s failure to honor ceasefire agreements, emphasizing his interest in serious negotiations that could lead to lasting peace.
Putin’s remarks coincided with the conclusion of a three-day ceasefire declared by Russia, just as leaders from the UK, France, Poland, and Germany threatened to impose harsher sanctions should Russia not agree to an unconditional, 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. This demand was made in a joint news briefing following a solemn visit to a memorial in Kyiv, where these leaders stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Their call for a ceasefire received backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had been informed earlier in the day.
The proposed ceasefire aims to halt hostilities across all fronts—land, sea, and air—and is part of a broader initiative to persuade Moscow to engage in peace talks to conclude over three years of warfare. Donald Trump’s former special envoy to Ukraine emphasized that such a truce could initiate the process to end the longest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Putin has previously articulated demands for Ukraine’s withdrawal from four regions it annexed and insisted on restrictions concerning Ukraine’s military capabilities and NATO membership. Despite indicating Russia’s strength to pursue its military objectives, he also expressed a desire to avoid escalating the conflict to nuclear warfare.
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