Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for peace talks with Ukraine will incorporate the previously set aside 2022 draft and acknowledge Ukraine’s ongoing challenges under Russian control, according to a statement from the Kremlin on Sunday.

On the same day, President Putin suggested a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian officials, aiming to establish lasting peace to conclude the ongoing conflict. This initiative was met with a welcoming response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who indicated that while Kyiv is open to dialogue, Moscow must first commit to an immediate ceasefire.

Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov informed the media shortly after Putin’s announcement that the upcoming discussions would consider both the abandoned draft from 2022 and the present circumstances on the ground.

Following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, initial talks began in Belarus and later transitioned to Istanbul. An agreement formed the basis for what became known as the “Istanbul Communique,” which outlined a potential framework for resolving the conflict.

Although the talks failed in May, Russian authorities have maintained that a resolution might still align with the Istanbul format. Steve Witkoff, a U.S. envoy during President Donald Trump’s term, characterized the 2022 draft as a potential roadmap towards peace.

According to a copy reviewed by Reuters, Ukraine would accept permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from five permanent members of the UN Security Council—these include the UK, China, France, Russia, the US—and additional nations such as Canada, Germany, Israel, Poland, and Turkey.

Ukraine appeared to tentatively accept the idea of nuclear-free neutrality and indicated it would not join NATO, provided security guarantees necessitated that the US and its allies would intervene directly if Russia were to launch another attack.

Key territorial disputes outlined in the 2022 draft were considered a major obstacle to reaching an agreement, second only to the need for security guarantees.

Ukraine sought assurances for its safety following the invasion, while the US and its partners exhibited caution about promising support that could lead to further conflict with Russia.

The 2022 draft also championed Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership, while Russia sought to restrict Ukrainian military capabilities and eliminate laws deemed unfavorable to Russian-speaking individuals.