Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Calls for Direct Talks with Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Calls for Direct Talks with Ukraine

The last direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago.

RMN News World Report
May 11, 2025

Moscow and Kyiv face duelling proposals for potential de-escalation, with Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for “direct” and “immediate” talks, while European leaders who visited Kyiv demanded an “unconditional 30-day ceasefire”.

In a rare late-night televised address from the Kremlin, Putin proposed “direct talks” to “start without delay, as early as 15 May”. He stated Russia seeks “serious talks… to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving towards a lasting, strong peace”.

Putin suggested Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, as the location and said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss details. He added that he would “not rule out” the possibility that these talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing “new ceasefires, a new truce”.

Putin offered to resume negotiations and “direct talks… without any preconditions”. He contrasted his vision of peace with one he described as merely a “prologue to more armed hostilities” after Ukraine receives new weapons and personnel.

Putin also accused Ukraine of repeatedly failing to respond to past Moscow ceasefire proposals, including a 30-day halt on attacks on energy infrastructure and an Easter truce. He mentioned a unilateral, three-day ceasefire he ordered in April for World War Two commemorations, which Kyiv rejected as a “theatrical show”.

The Russian leader’s call came hours after leaders from France, Germany, the UK (UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer), and Poland – part of the “coalition of the willing” – visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Hosted by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the European leaders urged Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, starting on Monday (May 12). This meeting was described as a “symbolic response” to Victory Day celebrations hosted by Putin in Moscow the previous day.

During their visit, the European leaders warned that “new and massive” sanctions would be imposed on Russia’s energy and banking sectors should Putin not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire “in the air, at sea and on land”. They also discussed their proposal with Donald Trump, who they said was “absolutely clear” that their suggestion of an immediate ceasefire was a “demand that must be met”. Zelensky thanked the leaders for “standing with” Ukraine, stating their focus would be on building “real and lasting security”.

As of the time of the BBC report of May 11, Kyiv had not responded to Putin’s invitation for talks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the European leaders’ ceasefire call by stating Moscow would “have to think this through,” adding that “trying to pressure us is quite useless”.

Peskov was also quoted as saying European statements were “generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations”. Moscow has previously stated that the West must first halt its military aid to Ukraine before it would consider a ceasefire.

The last direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago.