As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, new initiatives regarding peace talks have come to the fore. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently proposed the resumption of negotiations and requested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to host the process in Istanbul. Putin emphasized that he suggested starting direct talks on May 15 without any preconditions. Meanwhile, Turkiye has put forward a series of concrete proposals to facilitate the peace process. These include a humanitarian ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners and bodies, halting attacks on civilian infrastructure, and holding negotiations in Istanbul under neutral guarantees.
Speaking to ARB24 Television via live broadcast, political analyst Dr. Ahmad Shahidov explained that there are several fundamental reasons behind Russia’s initiative. According to Dr. Shahidov, the situation on the front lines is not favorable for Moscow, and the country is facing both military losses and increasing international pressure.
The political commentator stressed that with this initiative, Putin essentially aims to preserve the current status quo and freeze the conflict in a way that aligns with Russia’s interests. Additionally, one of Moscow’s key objectives is to delay or completely eliminate Ukraine’s potential NATO membership through diplomatic negotiations.
Dr. Ahmad Shahidov also highlighted Turkiye’s peace initiatives, emphasizing that Ankara acts as a reliable mediator in the region and offers a phased peace plan acceptable to both sides. This plan involves resolving humanitarian issues, exchanging prisoners, declaring a ceasefire, and gradually moving toward a political solution.
At the end of the interview, Dr. Shahidov stated that although it seems difficult to initiate direct talks under the current conditions, Turkiye remains the most realistic and neutral platform to revive the process.
