Putin Pushes for Direct Peace Talks in Istanbul as Ukraine & Euroglobalists Demand Preconditioned Truce
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the resumption of direct peace talks with Ukraine, proposing a meeting in Istanbul on May 15 without any preconditions.
The offer has been welcomed by Turkey’s strongman President Erdoğan and cautiously echoed by US President Donald Trump, but rejected by Kyiv and Europe’s globalist leaders, who are insisting that Russia first agree to an “unconditional” 30-day ceasefire.
Speaking from the Kremlin in a late-night address, Putin stated: “We propose the Kyiv authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted at the end of 2022… without any preconditions… to begin without delay next Thursday, 15 May in Istanbul.” He emphasized that the talks should aim for a “long-term, lasting peace” and not just a pause in hostilities.
The Istanbul talks in March 2022, according to former U.S. officials speaking to Foreign Affairs, had produced the framework for a tentative peace deal. Russian officials, including Putin, later confirmed that a settlement was close. However, the process abruptly collapsed following intensified Western intervention. A report by Ukrainska Pravda revealed that then–UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv in April 2022 and urged Zelensky not to sign any agreement with Russia.