Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that Kyiv is prepared to meet with Moscow for peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, but only if Russia first agrees to a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, May 12.
In a notable shift in tone since Russia’s invasion over three years ago, Zelensky described Russia’s proposal for direct negotiations as a “positive sign.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to host these negotiations, conveying to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call that a “window of opportunity” for peace has emerged.
Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have been stalled since March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February of that year.
Those earlier discussions in Istanbul ultimately failed to prevent the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in immense casualties, widespread destruction, and a severe breakdown in relations between Russia and the West.
Russia currently occupies a significant portion of Ukraine, including the claimed annexation of four regions in addition to Crimea, seized in 2014.
Zelensky emphasised the urgency of ending the bloodshed, stating on social media that “there is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day.”
He called on Russia to confirm a “full, lasting, and reliable” ceasefire starting the following day, May 12, asserting Ukraine’s readiness to meet.
He characterised Russia’s consideration of ending the war as a “positive sign” and a step towards peace, a sentiment echoed by Ukraine’s Western allies.
Kyiv and its allies maintain that an unconditional ceasefire is the essential first step towards a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, which they describe as Europe’s worst since World War II.
During a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, the leaders of France, the UK, Germany, and Poland, backed by US President Donald Trump, pressed Russia to commit to this unconditional ceasefire.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, reiterated that Kyiv would only participate in talks if Moscow agreed to the ceasefire beginning on Monday, emphasising, “First, a 30-day ceasefire, then everything else.”
However, at a late-night press conference in the Kremlin, President Putin did not address the proposed 30-day ceasefire. Instead, he suggested a resumption of the Istanbul talks that collapsed in 2022, proposing a meeting on Thursday, May 15, without any preconditions.
While Putin mentioned the possibility of agreeing to a new ceasefire during these talks, he also accused Ukraine’s Western supporters of wanting to prolong the war and criticised European “ultimatums” and “anti-Russian rhetoric.”
Following his return from Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he expected Russia to commit to the ceasefire “without setting any condition.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Russia’s offer for direct negotiations as a “good sign” but “far from sufficient,” urging Moscow to agree to a truce.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump hailed the developments as a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” and pledged to work with both sides to end the conflict.
Adding to the tense atmosphere, Kyiv reported that Moscow launched over 100 drones on Ukraine on Sunday, after a 72-hour ceasefire announced by Russia had ended at midnight.
