Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed initiating direct talks with Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday morning, Putin said that the negotiations must aim at achieving lasting peace and addressing the root causes of the war.
“We urge Kyiv’s leadership to resume negotiations on Thursday [May 15] in Istanbul,” said Putin.
According to Deutsche Welle, he added: “Those who truly want peace cannot reject this proposal.”
Putin also stated that he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
One of the main issues that Putin continues to oppose— and that he cited as a reason for launching the now 3-year-long war— is NATO’s efforts to expand closer to Russia’s borders by encouraging Ukraine to join the alliance. Putin said Ukraine’s retreat from that path could have resolved the conflict, but his counterpart, President Zelenskyy, refused to back down.
