Putin says Russia ready for Ukraine talks based on Anchorage, Istanbul

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that Moscow is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine based on agreements reached in Istanbul and Anchorage, as well as current battlefield realities. Speaking to government officials, Putin said Kyiv interrupted the process. "Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine—based on the agreements reached in Istanbul," he said, adding that any deal must reflect "the modalities discussed in Anchorage, and, most importantly, on the realities on the ground."

Putin accused Kyiv of attempting to create favorable conditions ahead of renewed talks by carrying out attacks inside Russian territory. He underlined that Moscow remains open to dialogue but insisted that discussions must rest on existing draft documents and the current military situation.

Road to Anchorage

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations held three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul last year on May 16, June 2, and July 23, according to the Anadolu Agency. Those sessions produced major prisoner exchanges and draft memorandums. Following the Istanbul rounds, the US and Russian presidents convened in Anchorage, Alaska, where they developed a 28-point peace plan later revised to 20 points. Ukrainian officials have rejected territorial concessions, sources told the agency, complicating efforts to finalize a settlement.

Diplomatic freeze

Under Washington's mediation, Moscow and Kyiv also conducted three rounds of talks earlier this year between Jan. 23 and Feb. 18 in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. The diplomatic process ground to a halt after the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28. Talks have not resumed since the outbreak of that conflict.