Putin: Russia Ready for Peace Talks Based on 2022 Istanbul Draft

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Russia's readiness for peace negotiations with Ukraine, referencing the draft agreement proposed in Istanbul in 2022 as a potential basis. Putin asserted that Ukraine's recent drone attacks on civilian targets are intended to destabilize Russian society rather than impact the military situation on the front lines.

"What is the goal of attacks on non-military infrastructure? To destabilize society during such a massive attack when the entire West is working on their behalf and these drones are arriving in huge numbers, in order to create a climate of uncertainty about the actions of the Russian armed forces," Putin stated, emphasizing his view on the purpose of these strikes.

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What is the goal of attacks on non-military infrastructure? To destabilize society during such a massive attack when the entire West is working on their behalf and these drones are arriving in huge numbers, in order to create a climate of uncertainty about the actions of the Russian armed forces.

Furthermore, Putin indicated that Russian forces are nearing control over Kostyantynivka, located in the southern part of the fortified zone in the Donetsk region. Moscow has demanded that Kyiv cede this territory.

Echoing Putin's sentiment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also expressed Moscow's willingness to resume peace talks with Kyiv "from where they left off." Lavrov referred to the discussions held in Istanbul shortly after the war began in 2022. However, there has been no indication of a shift in Russia's core position, which includes the demand for Ukraine to surrender the remaining parts of the Donbas region that Ukrainian forces have managed to defend.

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We are ready to talk with Kyiv, as we always were.