Sun May 11 03:15:54 UTC 2025: ## Putin Proposes Unconditional Talks with Ukraine in Istanbul Amid Western Calls for Ceasefire
**Kyiv/Moscow** – Amidst growing international pressure, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15th, without preconditions, to achieve a lasting peace. This offer comes hours after leaders from Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, and the UK, meeting in Kyiv, called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning Monday, a proposal backed by US President Donald Trump.
The Western leaders threatened “massive” new sanctions against Russia should it refuse the ceasefire. Putin, while not directly addressing the Western demand for a ceasefire, criticized European ultimatums and anti-Russian rhetoric. He stated Russia’s readiness to negotiate without preconditions, aiming to address the root causes of the conflict and achieve a lasting peace, not merely a temporary halt in fighting.
Putin said he would discuss the proposal with Turkish President Erdoğan to facilitate the talks. While there has been no immediate Ukrainian response, President Zelenskyy has previously indicated willingness to engage in peace talks only after a ceasefire is established.
The proposed talks would aim to build on a previous round in Istanbul in early 2022 which ended without agreement. Putin stated that Russia was not responsible for the collapse of those talks. He also reiterated Russia’s previous demands, including Ukraine abandoning NATO aspirations and withdrawing from territories claimed by Russia.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in a massive loss of life and a significant escalation of tensions between Russia and the West. Both sides accuse the other of repeatedly violating previous ceasefire attempts. The conflicting proposals highlight the deep divisions and challenges in achieving a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war.
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