Putin Declares Readiness for Peace Talks
President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine, grounded in the agreements reached in Istanbul and Anchorage, as well as the current realities on the ground. Speaking during a meeting with government officials, Putin emphasized that the negotiation process had been halted due to Ukraine's actions.
"Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine," Putin stated. "Based on the agreements reached in Istanbul, on the modalities discussed in Anchorage and most importantly, on the realities on the ground." He accused Ukraine of attempting to create favorable conditions for itself ahead of a possible resumption of stalled peace negotiations by conducting attacks inside Russian territory.
History of Peace Negotiations
Russia and Ukraine have engaged in multiple rounds of peace talks over the past year. In Istanbul, three rounds were held on May 16, June 2, and July 23, resulting in significant prisoner exchanges and draft memorandums outlining each side's positions for a potential peace deal. Subsequently, the US and Russian presidents met in Anchorage, Alaska, leading to a 28-point peace plan, later revised to 20 points. However, Ukraine reportedly rejected any territorial concessions.
Under US mediation, three additional rounds took place earlier this year: January 23-24 and February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi, and February 17-18 in Geneva. The process stalled after the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Earlier Draft Treaty
In spring 2022, a draft peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine, agreed during in-person negotiations, was initialled in Istanbul. The current proposal for talks builds on these earlier efforts.
