Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a surprise proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine to end the ongoing war, offering negotiations without preconditions in Istanbul, Türkiye, as early as Thursday.

The televised statement from the Kremlin marks Putin’s most explicit call for dialogue since talks collapsed in 2022, amid Russia’s continued military advances and growing international pressure for a cease-fire.

“We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said, emphasizing the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict. He suggested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would facilitate the talks and accused Ukraine and its Western allies of prioritizing “personal political ambitions” over peace. Putin warned that Kyiv and its backers now face a choice between dialogue and continued bloodshed.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, welcomed the announcement as a potential turning point. “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!” Trump wrote, highlighting the possibility of saving “hundreds of thousands of lives” and pledging to support peace efforts. Trump has frequently positioned himself as a peacemaker during his 2024 presidential campaign.

European leaders, however, expressed skepticism. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after a recent summit in Kyiv, called the proposal a “first step” but insufficient, accusing Putin of stalling. “A cease-fire should not be contingent on prior negotiations,” Macron said, reiterating demands for an immediate 30-day halt to hostilities or face tougher sanctions. Putin dismissed European demands as “ultimatums,” claiming Russia’s past cease-fire offers, including during religious holidays, were met with Ukrainian attacks.

Despite the peace overture, Ukrainian officials reported overnight Russian drone strikes on Kyiv and surrounding areas, injuring at least one civilian and damaging homes. Ukraine has not yet officially responded to Putin’s proposal. The Russian leader said a “new cease-fire” could be negotiated as part of a broader peace framework but reiterated Moscow’s demands: Ukraine must abandon NATO aspirations and withdraw from four Russian-annexed regions.

Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory and continues to advance. Putin acknowledged peace efforts by China, Brazil, and African nations but blamed Ukraine for derailing prior talks, including a 2022 Istanbul draft agreement that proposed Ukrainian neutrality for international security guarantees. Western powers, including the U.S. and EU, have rejected Russia’s terms, condemning the invasion as an illegal land grab and pledging to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Now in its third year, the war has killed hundreds of thousands, devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure, and heightened global tensions to levels unseen since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. While Putin’s proposal signals a potential opening, mutual distrust and conflicting demands continue to hinder diplomatic progress. (ILKHA)