Speaking at a late-night press briefing in Moscow, Putin said Russia remained open to meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. His remarks came shortly after the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom visited Kyiv, where they jointly called for a 30-day ceasefire to begin on Monday.

“We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine,” said Putin. “The aim is to address the root causes of the conflict and to establish a lasting peace with long-term guarantees.”

Putin suggested that a new ceasefire agreement could emerge from the proposed talks, emphasising that it must be respected by both sides. “A genuine ceasefire, one observed not just by Russia, but by Ukraine as well—is what we hope can come out of this,” he added.

While Kyiv has yet to publicly respond to the invitation, the choice of Istanbul as a venue may signal a renewed diplomatic push, with Turkey positioned as a neutral host. Ankara has previously played a mediating role in the early stages of the war.

The latest diplomatic moves reflect growing pressure from European capitals to reduce hostilities, which have caused significant humanitarian and economic fallout across the region.

--ChannelAfrica--