Russian officials emphasize that direct negotiations must be held in Istanbul first to achieve a long-term peace with Ukraine. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an official statement on Sunday, May 11.
Zakharova: “First, the root causes of the war must be discussed”
Quoting Zakharova, the TASS state news agency reports:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly stated in his statement yesterday evening that the main and historical reasons for the war against Ukraine must be discussed. Only after that can negotiations on peace be held.”
With this statement, Moscow indirectly responded to the proposal from Western countries and Ukraine for a 30-day ceasefire starting from May 12.
What did Putin say?
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed to hold unconditional direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. He emphasized that these negotiations should aim to “eliminate the root causes of the war” and “achieve stable, long-term peace.”
Kremlin: “There are nuances”
In this regard, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had also previously stated:
“Russia is ready to stop the incessant shootings, but there are certain 'nuances.' If they are taken into account, the situation may change.”
The West and Kyiv proposed a 30-day peace
It is worth noting that on May 10-11, a summit of the “Coalition of Volunteers” took place in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During this summit, the initiative for a complete and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days starting from May 12 was proposed and supported by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The editorial team of Zamin.uz always supports diplomatic efforts that lead to peace between Russia and Ukraine. The planned negotiations in Istanbul could become a crucial turning point in resolving the conflict through a political solution. Stay with us for new updates.
