Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding “direct talks” with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, as European leaders and the United States attempt to put pressure on Moscow to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in order to bring an end to the three-year conflict.

From left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz make a call to U.S. President Donald Trump from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

On Sunday, the Russian president proposed the resumption of direct peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv without preconditions in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul on May 15, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirming his readiness to host the talks in a call with Putin later that day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is offering direct talks that he says may lead to a longer ceasefire. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Germany will demand stronger sanctions against Russia if there is no progress this week in resolving the war in Ukraine, states the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz. Merz believes that Russia should declare its readiness for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.