On Sunday, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s commitment to restart direct negotiations with Ukraine to end the ongoing conflict. He proposed that discussions begin on May 15 in Turkey, expressing a willingness to proceed without preconditions. Putin claimed Ukraine has previously abandoned talks and violated ceasefire agreements, although both sides share blame for recent violations.
His comments coincided with the final day of a three-day ceasefire declared by Russia, shortly after a coalition of leaders from the UK, France, Poland, and Germany threatened to impose further sanctions if Russia does not agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. This proposal, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to halt military actions across land, sea, and air, facilitating potential peace talks to resolve the war that has persisted for over three years.
During a press briefing in Kyiv, the leaders emphasized the urgency of the ceasefire, a sentiment echoed by retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, who described it as a necessary step toward ending the conflict, citing Trump’s call to “stop the killing now.”
Putin has previously demanded Ukraine withdraw from four regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—that Russia illegally annexed and has insisted on guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO, will restrict its military size, and will protect Russian culture and language within its borders. Despite expressing hope for a peaceful resolution, Putin has indicated that Russia is prepared to continue its military efforts if necessary, with sufficient resources to pursue their goals in Ukraine.
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