Putin proposes direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, without ceasefire. Trump responds

He said this during a press conference on the night of May 11, 2025.

Putin announced that he proposed restarting talks with Ukraine on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Istanbul. According to him, Russia has repeatedly suggested steps toward a ceasefire and has allegedly never refused dialogue with Ukraine.

"Let me remind you once again, it wasn’t us who broke off the negotiations in 2022. It was the Ukrainian side. That’s why, regardless of everything, we propose to the Kyiv authorities to resume the talks they ended in late 2022. To restart direct negotiations. And I emphasize — without any preconditions. We propose to begin them without delay next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul. Where they were held before, and where they were cut off," Putin said.

In his address, Putin referred to the so-called "special military operation" as a war for the first time. He repeated that he wants to resume direct talks "without preconditions."

He also said he expects a response from the Ukrainian authorities and their “curators.” Once again, Putin brought up the issue of addressing the "root causes of the conflict."

"We’re ready for serious talks with Ukraine. Their goal is to remove the root causes of the conflict and set up long-term, lasting peace for the future. We don’t rule out that during these talks we could agree on some sort of new truce, a new ceasefire. A real one — observed not only by Russia but also by Ukraine — and that could be the first step, I repeat, toward long-term, stable peace, not a prelude to more war after rearming, restocking the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and rushing to dig new trenches and strongholds," Putin said.

He also announced he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 12. Putin said he hoped Turkey would again offer to host the talks.

"As we know, our Turkish colleagues have repeatedly offered to host these negotiations, and President Erdoğan has done a lot to support them… Tomorrow, we have a scheduled call with the President of Turkey, Mr. Erdoğan. I want to ask him to provide a platform for the talks in Turkey. I hope he confirms his intention to help the search for peace in Ukraine," the dictator said.

U.S. President's response

U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Putin’s late-night comments about direct talks with Ukraine. He said he would keep working with both sides, and that the coming week could be significant.

"A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending “bloodbath” hopefully comes to an end. It will be a whole new, and much better, WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

• Just the day before, on May 10, a meeting of leaders from the Coalition of the Willing was held in Kyiv. Participants supported an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, set to begin Monday, May 12.
• After the meeting, its participants — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, and Donald Tusk — immediately called Trump. According to media reports, Zelenskyy allegedly confirmed he was open to direct talks with Putin, but only after a 30-day truce is agreed.
• Observers suggest Trump may have personally called Putin after that conversation, and only then did the Russian leader make his late-night statement to the press.
• Putin’s speech, held late at night, can be explained by the time difference between Washington and Moscow. Washington is seven hours behind Moscow.