Russia’s offer to sit down for talks on May 15 in Istanbul marks a new chapter in the war, as Europe and Ukraine call for an unconditional ceasefire before any negotiations.
Soldecanarias.net
On May 11, 2025, in a surprising statement during the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered direct, unconditional negotiations with Ukraine, proposing they take place starting May 15 in Istanbul, Turkey. In an unexpected twist, the proposal hinted at a potential opening in the long-standing conflict, which has been ongoing for over three years and caused thousands of deaths and displacements.
U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the news with an optimistic message on social media, highlighting that this could be «a great day for Russia and Ukraine!» However, the response from Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, was more cautious. In a tweet, he described the Russian offer as a «positive sign,» but insisted that before talks can advance, Russia must agree to an immediate ceasefire starting on May 12.
Zelensky was not alone in making this demand. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, supported Ukraine’s stance, emphasizing that an unconditional ceasefire should be the first step before any negotiations. Macron, along with other European leaders, insisted that peace talks cannot proceed while fighting continues on the ground.
This exchange of statements marks a new phase in the diplomatic process. On one hand, Putin seems willing to take a step toward negotiations, but on the other hand, the Kremlin has continued to attack Ukraine relentlessly, despite pledging a temporary ceasefire in recent days, which was broken with new Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with Friedrich Merz (German Chancellor) and Donald Tusk (President of the European People’s Party), met with Zelensky in Kyiv on May 10 and issued a strong ultimatum to Moscow. They demanded a 30-day ceasefire to sit down and negotiate a lasting peace. Should this not be met, they announced new sanctions against Russia, particularly in the energy and banking sectors.
Despite the tensions on the ground and the differing approaches among international actors, Putin’s offer to restart talks seems to be an attempt to «buy time», as President Macron noted, fearing that Moscow’s initiative could merely be a strategy to delay the process.
Meanwhile, Putin remained firm, stating that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s neutrality and that he will not accept any condition that involves the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territories. He also mentioned that «new ceasefires» are being explored as part of a broader process to end the conflict but made it clear that the Istanbul talks are meant to address «the roots of the conflict.»
As the date for the proposed talks approaches, the international community watches with caution to see if this will finally be the moment when the parties involved achieve a halt in hostilities that allows for a diplomatic resolution to begin. However, the situation remains uncertain, with a war that, though possibly nearing its final stages, continues to demand human and material sacrifices.
