URGENT: Putin offers direct peace talks to Ukraine without preconditions
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes starting peace talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul, without preconditions, and requests Erdoğan's support for mediation.
In an unexpected and high-impact diplomatic turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered direct peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions, proposing that they be held on May 15 in Istanbul.
“We are ready for serious negotiations,” Putin said in a brief televised appearance from the Kremlin.
The Russian president also announced that he will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this Thursday to request support in organizing talks on Turkish soil, which has historically acted as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.
The offer comes amid a prolonged military stalemate and strong international pressure for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.
The Ukrainian government has yet to issue an official response, but sources close to President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the announcement is being evaluated with "utmost caution" and in consultation with Western allies.
European leaders and multilateral organizations have reacted with cautious optimism, although many emphasize the need for concrete guarantees from Moscow.
Turkey, which has maintained relatively balanced relations with both sides during the war, could play a key role as host and facilitator of this potential diplomatic turning point.
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