Putin Expresses Willingness for Peace Talks with Ukraine for the First Time | WPN World People News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has, for the first time, publicly expressed Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine, potentially opening a path to resolve the conflict that has lasted for over three years. This statement is seen by many as a shift in Russia’s stance and has drawn significant international attention.

Following the failure of a 30-hour "test of loyalty" ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during Easter, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement, the United States has grown increasingly impatient with mediating the conflict. U.S. officials have warned that unless progress is made, they may disengage from further involvement.

Against this backdrop, on April 21, Putin proposed the first bilateral talks with Ukraine in years. It’s important to note that since the war broke out in February 2022, there have been no direct negotiations between the two sides.

According to reports, Putin’s proposal includes freezing the current frontlines and dropping claims to control parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, on the condition that the U.S. recognizes Crimea as Russian territory and guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO. This proposal is believed to have been floated during a meeting between Putin and Donald Trump’s envoy, Vitkov, in early April. Many observers interpret this as a deliberate “controlled leak” to pave the way for future peace negotiations.

However, Ukraine remains firm in its position. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a recent press conference, strongly rejected any possibility of ceding territory, stating, “There is nothing to negotiate. This is beyond our constitution. This is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people. It’s not going to happen.” He emphasized that Ukraine has not received any formal proposal and will not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Putin stated: “Russia has never closed the door to negotiations. We are willing to engage in substantive dialogue with Ukraine and other relevant parties, based on mutual respect for each other's interests and security.” He stressed that the precondition for negotiations is that Western countries must stop providing military aid and acknowledge Russia’s legitimate security concerns.

Ukraine has yet to issue a public response. However, President Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that the basis for any talks must include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories and the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

International reactions to Putin’s remarks have been mixed. The U.S. State Department said it would continue to observe whether Russia takes any concrete actions to support this statement. EU diplomats commented that the possibility of peace talks is worth exploring but must be grounded in international law and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the two sides have held multiple rounds of contact without reaching any substantial agreement. Putin’s latest comments are seen as a signal that Russia, under growing domestic and international pressure, is seeking a way out of the war.

Although fighting continues, whether this statement could become a breakthrough remains to be seen.