"We suggest that the Kiev authorities resume negotiations"
Russia has offered Ukraine to hold direct talks in Istanbul on May 15, without any preconditions. This was stated by Vladimir Putin during a statement to the media on the night of May 11. He will soon have a telephone conversation with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is noteworthy that Russia took such a step against the background of serious violations by the Ukrainian side of the truce announced by the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Kiev has made five attempts to attack the Russian state border in three days. However, the Ukrainian aggressive actions did not affect the celebrations in the country in any way. The leaders of 27 countries came to Moscow for Victory Day. Vladimir Putin held 20 bilateral meetings over the holidays.
Will Kiev agree to negotiations on May 15
On May 7-10, 27 heads of state from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe came to Moscow to participate in events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. These days, Vladimir Putin has held a total of 20 bilateral talks. The Russian president summed up the results of such a busy work on the night of May 11. He went out to reporters after 1:30 a.m., his speech lasted about 20 minutes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting
Vladimir Putin stressed that the Ukrainian settlement was discussed during the negotiations. And this is no coincidence: The leaders of Brazil and China, who had previously launched peacekeeping initiatives, were present in Moscow. In addition, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who actively advocates ending the conflict and establishing relations with Moscow, also arrived.
The issues of stable and sustainable development of the whole world were discussed at all bilateral and multilateral meetings in Moscow.
"They, of course, took place in a special, solemn, festive atmosphere, but at the same time they were extremely rich and informative, filled with topics on the political, economic and humanitarian agenda," the Russian leader said.
The president's speech was expected, of course, to respond to the EU's proposal for a 30-day truce. On May 10, Ukraine expressed its readiness to comply with it, starting on May 12. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said that EU leaders presented this proposal to US President Donald Trump during a telephone conversation. On the other end of the line were French President Emmanuel Macron, new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. All of them came to Kiev that day for negotiations.
Vladimir Putin said that Russia has repeatedly taken steps towards dialogue with the Ukrainian side and has never rejected this opportunity. Moreover, the country has repeatedly taken initiatives for a ceasefire, but they were sabotaged by Kiev.
— Despite everything, we suggest that the Kiev authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted at the end of 2022 (they were held in Turkey. – Ed.). To resume direct negotiations, and, I stress, without any preconditions. We propose to start without delay, as early as next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted," Vladimir Putin said.
The head of state intends to call Turkish Leader Tayyip Erdogan soon to discuss this issue. Russia is committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict. Moreover, it is possible that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree on some kind of new truce, which would be respected not only by Russia, but also by the Ukrainian side, the president noted.
— Our proposals are what is called "on the table". The decision now rests with the Ukrainian authorities and their supervisors <... > I repeat, Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions," Vladimir Putin stressed.
Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the Russian Federation is waiting for a reaction from Ukraine to this proposal. He did not name the composition of the delegation that could travel to Turkey from the Russian side.
According to experts, it is too early to talk about Kiev's real readiness for direct negotiations, and most likely the European coalition "will continue to bend its line," said Tigran Meloyan, an analyst at the HSE Center for Mediterranean Studies. Washington is given the opportunity to exit the game with the least image losses and pass the "negotiating baton" to Ankara.
Recently, the American side has repeatedly talked about the possibility of ending its mediation role. However, it is definitely not worth expecting that the head of the White House, Donald Trump, will completely stop participating in the settlement of the conflict: the end of this conflict was, in fact, one of his election promises.
— The ball has not just been kicked to the western half of the field, but a deadline has been set. There's not much time left until May 15th. Perhaps this is also the last offer from Moscow, after three previous steps towards it: a partial truce in March and April, an Easter truce and an armistice on May 9. All of them have been repeatedly violated by the Ukrainian side," Tigran Meloyan told Izvestia.
It is possible that during possible direct negotiations, the parties will reach an impasse again, because the conditions of a potential peace have changed greatly against Kiev since the first meetings in Istanbul. Therefore, as a result, direct negotiations may be significantly delayed or even fail, since a compromise situation is still not visible, the expert concluded.
Violations of the truce by Ukraine
During his speech, the head of the Russian Federation recalled how Kiev defiantly violated the moratorium on strikes on energy facilities about 130 times. It operated from March 18 to April 17 and was reached as a result of Vladimir Putin's contacts with Donald Trump.
Kiev rejected the truce proposed by the Russian leader in the days of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Moreover, Vladimir Zelensky even threatened to strike at Moscow, despite the arrival of about 30 foreign leaders in the Russian capital.
Nevertheless, the Russian military repelled all attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the three-day truce on Victory Day, the Russian president said. According to him, Kiev has made five attempts to attack the Russian state border in the Kursk region and at the junction with the Belgorod region during this period. At the same time, Ukraine suffered very heavy losses. Kiev is also almost 5 thousand. He also violated the Easter truce, which was in effect from 18:00 Moscow time on April 19 to 00:00 Moscow time on April 21 and was introduced at the suggestion of the President of Russia.
The initiative for a 30-day ceasefire, which Zelensky made surrounded by European leaders, may at first glance seem like an attempt to reduce the degree of conflict, but this is not at all an equal call for peace, but a politically charged ultimatum, said Enes Karakhanov, chairman of the International Center for Combating Crime and Terrorism, international political scientist. According to him, the countries calling for peace at the same time promise to increase pressure and increase military assistance to Kiev — such a position cannot serve as a real basis for a settlement.
The attempt to use the truce as a lever of pressure on Moscow can also be seen in detail: the threat of a "powerful 17th package of sanctions" if Russia refuses this step is no longer diplomacy, but economic coercion, he stressed.
— Russia does not refuse dialogue. However, any agreement is possible only when the proposals are formulated taking into account the interests of both sides, and do not represent a set of demands backed by threats. The Western initiative is not such a proposal. This is a tactical maneuver aimed at presenting Russia in a negative light if the truce is abandoned, followed by increased pressure. A real truce is possible only when ultimatums are no longer used and when dialogue becomes the basis, not the cover for a policy of sanctions and interference," Enes Karakhanov told Izvestia.
According to him, Moscow has already encountered similar tactics in previous years — formal peace initiatives, followed by regular arms shipments and NATO expansion. Therefore, a critical attitude towards the new "initiative" is more than justified.
The content of the so-called "22 points" proposed by Ukraine and European countries is being actively discussed in the media. One of the central points is the blocking of Ukraine's accession to NATO.
— If this is true, then we are talking about a potential element of compromise, — says the expert.
Ukraine's non—aligned status is one of Moscow's key demands.
But, given all the previous rhetoric from Kiev and the West, it is difficult to believe in the sincerity of such proposals, warns Karakhanov.
Arrival of foreign leaders in Moscow
The Russian President expressed gratitude to foreign partners who are making efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. He named China, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East and the new US administration among such countries.
Vladimir Putin thanked all of Russia's foreign partners who came to Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the Victory to "bow to the generation of winners." Such a wide participation of foreign delegations in the events dedicated to May 9 testifies to the unity around the ideas and values of the Great Victory. At the same time, he recalled that the leaders of several European countries — Serbia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina — came to the celebration, despite threats, blackmail and obstacles.
The Russian Federation understands the massive pressure a number of European leaders have faced, and therefore sincerely appreciates their political courage, firm moral position, and decision to share the holiday with Russians and pay tribute to the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and World War II.
— Who were they trying to intimidate from those who came to Moscow to celebrate the Victory over Nazi Germany? After all, those who have come to us are leaders not by position, not by position, they are leaders by character, by their beliefs and by their willingness to defend their beliefs. And who was trying to intimidate them? Those who stand at attention in front of and salute and applaud former SS soldiers? And elevates to the rank of national heroes those who collaborated with Hitler during the Second World War? It seems to me that this is an assassination attempt with obviously unsuitable means, and those who are trying to do this do not match the scale they themselves expect," Vladimir Putin stressed.
It is known that a number of countries, including, for example, Estonia, have closed their airspace to planes of European leaders en route to Moscow. Robert Fico called such actions a "child's joke" at an earlier meeting with the Russian leader.
Nevertheless, Vladimir Putin is confident that sooner or later relations between Russia and European countries will be restored.
At the same time, the partnership of the Russian Federation with the People's Republic of China can serve as a true example of modern equal relations today in the 21st century. Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he will visit China in September to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory over militaristic Japan.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
