What many thought to be impossible appears about to happen.
Russia and Ukraine seem set to start direct peace negotiations Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey.
This startling development came after a weekend filled with negotiations by the peacemakers from the Donald J. Trump administration, with a complete ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a fourth round of talks with Iran – and now the beginning of the negotiations between Russians and Ukrainians.
While Ukraine broke Putin’s 3-day Victory Day ceasefire literally thousands of times, Kiev regime leader Volodymyr Zelensky came up with a ‘proposal’ of a continuation of the ceasefire for 30 days starting Monday (12), and stated that this was a condition for any peace talks.
Zelensky came to this demand after a visit to Kiev by the Globalist squad formed by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Ministers Keir Starmer of Britain and Donald Tusk of Poland, and the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Fresh from the successful Victory Day celebrations and a marathon of dozens of bilateral meetings, Russian president Vladimir Putin took a day to evaluate their demand/proposal, and came back with his own plan.
New York Post reported:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Turkey that he said should be aimed at bringing a durable peace, an initiative welcomed by US President Donald Trump.
[…] The Russian leader, who has offered few concessions towards ending the conflict so far, said the talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul will be aimed at eliminating the root causes of the war and restoring a “long-term, lasting peace” rather than simply a pause for rearmament.
‘We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions’, Putin said from the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday. ‘We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul’.”
So, there you have it: two different proposals from the warring parties – it had everything to become another misstep that would set the peace process back.
But surprisingly, that’s not how it shaped out: Turkey President Recep Erdoğan was quick to endorse the idea and offer to host the talks in Istanbul – and then Trump came out with a post that appears to have made a difference:
“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
While Zelensky, backed by the merry band of Globalist ‘leaders’, had demanded a 30-day cease-fire before any talks, the answer by Zelensky shows the Trump pressure seems to have worked:
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
Read more:
As VP Vance Says the Russia-Ukraine War ‘Is Not Going to End Any Time Soon’, State Department Spokeswoman Warns US ‘Not Going To Mediate Peace Talks Anymore’
The post BREAKING: Russia and Ukraine Set To Start Peace Talks Thursday in Istanbul After Trump Pressures Zelensky To Accept Putin Proposal appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.