**Russia Seeks to Restart Peace Talks with Ukraine in Istanbul**
Russia has announced its intention to restart peace talks with Ukraine in the Turkish city of Istanbul, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. The move comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukrainian leaders for direct talks starting May 15.
However, the proposal is met with skepticism by Ukraine’s government, which insists that any negotiations must begin with a full cessation of hostilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is ready to meet with Russian officials if they confirm a “full, durable, and reliable” ceasefire.
**A Troubled History of Peace Talks**
This is not the first time Russia has proposed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. In March 2022, the two sides held negotiations in Turkey, which outlined potential terms for a peace deal. However, those talks ultimately failed to produce any concrete results.
In reality, leaked documents from 2022 reveal that Moscow’s initial peace offer amounted to Ukraine’s effective surrender. Russia demanded that Ukraine reduce its military to just 50,000 troops and surrender its ability to develop or deploy long-range missiles or other advanced weapons.
**A Dubious Proposal**
U.S. presidential envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has questioned the viability of restarting talks from a framework that was never fair for all parties. “The Istanbul accords happened 30 days after the invasion, and the demands in Istanbul were fairly significant on a very weakened Ukraine,” he said.
Furthermore, Russia’s maximalist conditions for peace have only become more stringent over time. President Putin has demanded that Ukrainian troops withdraw from occupied regions, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has insisted that any peace deal must include a permanent ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership and demilitarization of the country.
**A Glimmer of Hope?**
While Russia’s proposal may seem like a step towards resolving the conflict, it remains to be seen whether this is more than just a public relations stunt. The circumstances on the ground have changed significantly since 2022, and Ukraine has made significant gains in recent years.
As Anna Fratsyvir, news editor at the Kyiv Independent, noted, “The Ukrainian government’s position remains unchanged: any negotiations must begin with a full cessation of hostilities.” Will Russia be willing to compromise on its demands? Only time will tell.
