Vladimir Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine to make 'lasting, strong peace' in rare late-night announcement

Russian President has signalled his readiness to restart direct peace negotiations with in Istanbul on May 15 "without preconditions."

In a rare late-night TV address on Sunday, he said was proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in an attempt to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace". Referring to failed talks shortly after the Russian invasion of 2022 he continued: "It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv. Nevertheless, we are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions."

Putin continued: "We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul,. Our proposal, as they say, is on the table, the decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples," reports .

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Putin's willingness to talk was revealed following a warning from leaders of France, the , Germany, and Poland last Saturday, who threatened to increase pressure on Moscow if it does not agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside European leaders in Kyiv, described their meeting as "a very important signal."

In a collective statement, the leaders demanded a ceasefire "lasting at least 30 days" starting from Monday, aiming to pave the way for diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end. They emphasised that "An unconditional ceasefire by definition cannot be subject to any conditions. If calls for such conditions, this can only be considered as an effort to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy."

Speaking in a press conference alongside his European counterparts, Sir Keir said Europe is 'stepping up' on the 80th anniversary of VE day to secure Ukraine's long-term future - after Putin called a three-day ceasefire for his Moscow event.Sir Keir said: "Volodymyr, we stand with you to secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine deserves.

"It's almost two months now since you agreed to an immediate 30 day ceasefire. In that time, Russia has launched some of the most deadly attacks on civilians of the entire war, including here in Kyiv. Normal lives, homes, families, destroyed. This is what Russia offers in place of peace along with delays, smoke screens, like the current 72 hour ceasefire. And so all of us here together with the US are calling Putin out.

"If he's serious about peace then he has a chance to show it now. By extending the VE day pause into a full unconditional 30 day ceasefire, with negotiations to follow immediately after a ceasefire is agreed. No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays. Putin didn't need conditions when he wanted a ceasefire to have a parade. And he doesn't need them now. Ukraine has shown the willingness to engage again and again, but again and again Putin has refused."

The visit by British Prime Minister Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled together to Ukraine. It is also the first time a meeting of global leaders was held in the country since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Following the summit, which dialed into, the leaders announced an agreement that there should be an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, with the backing of the US president. Russia is reportedly considering the ceasefire proposal.