Vladimir Putin/RIA Novosti
MOSCOW, 11 May (BelTA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev to resume direct negotiations without any preconditions in Türkiye on15 May, BelTA learned.
Vladimir Putin noted that Russia had repeatedly proposed ceasefire steps that were sabotaged by the Ukrainian side and had never refused to engage in dialogue with Kiev. “"Let me remind you once again: it was not us who broke off the negotiations in 2022. It was the Ukrainian side that did this. In this connection, in spite of everything, we propose to the authorities in Kiev to resume the negotiations that they interrupted at the end of 2022. Resume direct negotiations, and, I emphasize, without any preconditions. We propose to start them without delay next Thursday, 15 May, in Istanbul - where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted," the Russian president told reporters in the Kremlin.
He also recalled: "As a result of these negotiations [in 2022] a joint draft document was prepared, and it was initialed by the head of the Kiev negotiating group. But at the insistence of the West, the document was simply thrown into the bin.”
On 11 May, "I am scheduled to have a conversation with the Turkish president, Mr. Erdogan. I want to ask him to provide the opportunity for Türkiye to host [peace] talks. Hopefully, he will confirm his willingness to contribute to finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict," the Russian leader said.
Vladimir Putin noted that Russia had repeatedly proposed ceasefire steps that were sabotaged by the Ukrainian side and had never refused to engage in dialogue with Kiev. “"Let me remind you once again: it was not us who broke off the negotiations in 2022. It was the Ukrainian side that did this. In this connection, in spite of everything, we propose to the authorities in Kiev to resume the negotiations that they interrupted at the end of 2022. Resume direct negotiations, and, I emphasize, without any preconditions. We propose to start them without delay next Thursday, 15 May, in Istanbul - where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted," the Russian president told reporters in the Kremlin.
He also recalled: "As a result of these negotiations [in 2022] a joint draft document was prepared, and it was initialed by the head of the Kiev negotiating group. But at the insistence of the West, the document was simply thrown into the bin.”
On 11 May, "I am scheduled to have a conversation with the Turkish president, Mr. Erdogan. I want to ask him to provide the opportunity for Türkiye to host [peace] talks. Hopefully, he will confirm his willingness to contribute to finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict," the Russian leader said.
Vladimir Putin did not rule out that during the talks it would be possible to agree on new real truces that would be respected by both sides. “We are serious about the negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eradicate the root causes of the conflict, to pave the way to a long-term, solid peace. We are not ruling out that during these talks we will be able to agree on some new ceasefire, a new truce. I mean a real truce, which would be observed not only by Russia, but also by Ukraine," Vladimir Putin said. “It would be the first step, I repeat, towards a long-term and lasting peace, and not a preface towards continuing the armed conflict after re-equipment and additional supply of the Ukrainian troops and feverish digging of entrenchments and new strongholds. Who needs this peace?"
Russia’s proposal is on the table, the ball is now in the court of Kiev and its curators, who "are guided by their own political ambitions rather than the interests of their peoples" and "want to continue the conflict with Russia with the hands of Ukrainian nationalists,” Vladimir Putin noted.
Russia’s proposal is on the table, the ball is now in the court of Kiev and its curators, who "are guided by their own political ambitions rather than the interests of their peoples" and "want to continue the conflict with Russia with the hands of Ukrainian nationalists,” Vladimir Putin noted.
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