On Sunday night, Vladimir Putin held a press conference in which he commented on the past talks with foreign leaders and the demands of his Western colleagues for a 30-day ceasefire.
The president said that Ukraine violated the ceasefire by Victory Day, in particular, made five attempts to cross the border with Russia. According to the head of state, the possibility of extending the ceasefire was considered.
Putin suggested that Ukraine start direct negotiations without preconditions.
We propose to start without delay already next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted. As you know, Turkish colleagues have repeatedly offered their services to organize such talks, and President Erdogan has done a great deal to organize them. Let me remind you that as a result of these talks, a joint draft document was prepared and initialed by the head of the Kiev negotiating group, but at the insistence of the West it was simply thrown into the basket.
Tomorrow we are scheduled to speak with the President of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan. I would like to ask him to provide such an opportunity to hold talks in Turkey. I hope that he will confirm his desire to contribute to the search for peace in Ukraine,” the president said.
This situation really highlights how complex and fragile peace efforts can be, especially when trust is so easily broken on both sides. It makes me wonder if true dialogue can only begin once all parties are willing to listen without conditions and put aside external pressures. Sometimes it feels like peace is not just about agreements but about understanding the deeper human stories behind the conflict. The hope that talks might resume in a place like Istanbul, a city that bridges cultures and histories, feels symbolic in a way 🌍🙏.
Reading this makes me wonder if negotiations were a game show—Putin offers talks, Ukraine throws the draft in the basket, the West interrupts, and Erdogan plays host. If only peace was as easy as deciding when and where to meet. Maybe someone should bring popcorn next time; sounds like an episode I wouldn’t want to miss.
If only international negotiations were as quick and straightforward as deciding what to watch on Netflix after a long day 😅