Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Russia and Ukraine to resume bilateral talks based on the Istanbul Protocols from early 2022, which include Russian demands tantamount to Ukraine's complete surrender.
Putin spoke to media organizations on the night of May 10-11, following a joint proposal by the United States, Ukraine and Europe for a general ceasefire lasting at least 30 days, starting on May 12.
This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Putin did not agree with the joint proposal by the United States, Ukraine and Europe and instead suggested that Russia and Ukraine "resume" direct talks that he claims "Ukraine broke off" in 2022 on May 15.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that Russia would soon announce its delegation.
In March and June 2024, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and the New York Times (NYT) reported that they had obtained several versions of draft protocols from the Ukrainian-Russian peace talks in Istanbul in April 2022.
The documents call for Ukraine to abandon its NATO membership aspirations and amend its constitution to add a neutrality clause that would prohibit Ukraine from joining any military alliances, concluding military agreements, or accepting foreign military personnel, instructors, or weapons systems in Ukraine. Russia also requested that it, the United States, Britain, China, France, and Belarus serve as guarantors of the agreement's security.
Russia demanded that the Ukrainian army be limited to 85,000 troops, 342 tanks, and 519 artillery systems as part of the Istanbul Protocols. Russia further demanded that Ukrainian missiles be limited to a range of 40 kilometers, a range that would allow Russian forces to deploy critical systems and materials close to Ukraine without fear of being hit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accepted the proposal. Zelensky said he would personally wait for Putin in Turkey. Ukraine is waiting for Russia to agree to the proposal for a general ceasefire between the United States, Ukraine, and Europe.
Putin discussed resuming the 2022 Istanbul talks in a phone call with Erdogan on May 11, and Erdogan expressed support for resuming negotiations.
Erdogan noted during his call with Putin that a comprehensive ceasefire would "create the necessary environment" for peace talks.
European officials have urged Putin to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire agreement before starting bilateral peace talks with Ukraine.