Putin Proposes Direct Talks with Ukraine... "Let's Start Unconditional Negotiations"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially proposed unconditional direct talks with Ukraine.

According to the BBC on the 10th (local time), President Putin, in a live broadcast speech from the Kremlin, stated, "Let's start negotiations as early as the 15th," and added, "We can also discuss the possibility of a ceasefire and truce through serious negotiations."

President Putin mentioned that Russia had proposed a ceasefire three times in the past, but Ukraine rejected all of them. These included proposals to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, an Easter ceasefire, and a truce aligned with the end of World War II commemorations. He emphasized, "We propose once again to come to the negotiating table," and stated, "We are ready to resume unconditional direct talks with the Kyiv authorities."

He also proposed Istanbul, Turkey, as the meeting location and announced plans to discuss detailed schedules with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the 12th. The Ukrainian side has not yet made any official statements.

This proposal came shortly after major European leaders visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, urging Russia for a '30-day unconditional truce.' On this day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron visited Kyiv and held a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

They warned in the conference, "If Russia refuses the truce demand, we will impose large-scale additional sanctions." In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "We will consider it carefully," but immediately countered, "Trying to exert pressure is of no use."