Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent signals that he is open to peace talks come with significant caveats and should be considered in light of Ukraine’s and the West’s past experiences with Russian diplomacy. Despite discussions about potential negotiations, Russia has continued its aggressive actions, including a recent invasion from the north of Kharkiv.
According to Reuters, Moscow might be willing to discuss peace terms that would freeze its current occupation of about one-fifth of Ukraine. Putin suggested that Russia is open to talks based on earlier agreements, referring to a failed deal in Istanbul from 2022, which collapsed due to ongoing Russian military actions and the discovery of massacres around Kyiv. This proposal contrasts with Moscow’s goal of capturing all of eastern Donetsk and Kyiv’s refusal to surrender any territory.
