Putin Offers Talks With Ukraine on May 15 But Skirts Truce

Vladimir Putin during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia, in this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency on May 10.Photographer: Stanislav Krasilnikov/RIA Novosti/Anadolu/Getty Images

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By Bloomberg News

May 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM UTC

Updated on

May 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM UTC

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Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, saying he didn’t rule out reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in the war.

“We’re in the mood for serious talks with Ukraine,” Putin said in late-night comments to reporters at the Kremlin. Russia was ready to “resume direct negotiations and I emphasize - without any preconditions.”