MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow remains ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine based on agreements reached during earlier rounds of talks and what he described as the current realities on the ground.
Speaking during a meeting with government officials, Putin said Russia was prepared to engage in talks drawing on understandings reached during negotiations in Istanbul as well as discussions held later in Anchorage, Alaska.
“Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine—based on the agreements reached in Istanbul,” Putin said.
“Based on the agreements reached in Istanbul, on the modalities discussed in Anchorage, and, most importantly, on the realities on the ground.”
Negotiations and Conditions
Putin argued that the negotiation process had previously been interrupted at Ukraine’s initiative and accused Kyiv of attempting to strengthen its position ahead of any future talks through attacks inside Russian territory.
He said Moscow’s position remains focused on restarting negotiations using the framework developed during previous diplomatic efforts.
Russia and Ukraine held three rounds of renewed peace talks in Istanbul last year on May 16, June 2 and July 23. The meetings resulted in major prisoner exchanges and the preparation of draft memorandums outlining each side’s position on a possible peace settlement.
Previous Diplomatic Efforts
Subsequent discussions between the United States and Russia in Anchorage produced a 28-point peace framework that was later revised to 20 points. According to Russian officials, Ukraine opposed proposals involving territorial concessions.
Earlier this year, Moscow and Kyiv also participated in three rounds of talks under US mediation. The first two rounds took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5, while a third round was held in Geneva on February 17-18.
Those discussions were later suspended amid broader regional developments following the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Istanbul Framework
Putin’s comments also referenced negotiations held in the early months of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In spring 2022, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reached a draft peace treaty during face-to-face talks in Istanbul. The document was initialled by representatives of both sides but was never implemented.
Efforts to end the conflict have since stalled despite multiple diplomatic initiatives, prisoner exchanges and mediation attempts involving regional and international actors.
