Summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed unconditional peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict, shortly after Ukraine and European leaders called for a 30-day ceasefire. While Putin criticized European ultimatums, he emphasized Russia’s readiness to negotiate without preconditions, recalling past discussions and proposing that Ukraine maintain neutrality in exchange for security guarantees. The recent calls for a ceasefire have raised tensions, with threats of severe sanctions against Russia if it fails to comply, as both sides accuse each other of violating previous ceasefires.
