Ukraine Proposes New Peace Talks to End War, Putin Signals Readiness but Prioritizes Goals

File Photo**: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on December 9, 2019. (AFP)

Kyiv has proposed renewed peace talks with Moscow to end the ongoing war, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming that a proposal has been sent to Russia. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to negotiations, though his priority remains achieving Russia’s objectives in Ukraine.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has persisted for over three and a half years, causing significant losses on both sides. Over the past five months, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, two rounds of talks have taken place in Istanbul, Turkey. These discussions resulted in agreements on prisoner exchanges but failed to achieve progress toward a ceasefire.

In a national address on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a ceasefire, urging Russia to stop avoiding decisions. He revealed that Ukraine’s former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had sent a proposal to Moscow for new talks to be held the following week. Zelenskyy did not disclose further details about the proposal.[](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yl4lz0r38o) Umerov, who led Ukraine’s delegation in the previous Istanbul talks, was recently appointed head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council after being removed from his defense minister role. This new position is expected to give him greater authority to pursue peace negotiations with Russia. The proposal comes amid heightened diplomatic pressure, with Trump recently issuing a 50-day ultimatum to Putin on July 14, threatening additional economic sanctions on Moscow if the war does not end. Russia already faces sanctions from the United States and other Western nations. **Russia’s Priorities** Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Ukraine’s proposal, stating that Putin has repeatedly expressed interest in resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully and quickly. However, Peskov emphasized that achieving Russia’s goals remains the priority, describing the process as lengthy and complex. In a broadcast on Russian state television on Sunday, July 20, Peskov downplayed Trump’s threats of sanctions, noting that the world has grown accustomed to Trump’s tough rhetoric. He added that Trump has also committed to pursuing a peace agreement. Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimea peninsula, annexed in 2014. Moscow’s demands for a ceasefire include Ukraine abandoning claims to Russian-occupied regions and rejecting all Western military aid. Ukraine has consistently rejected these conditions. **Escalating Attacks Amid Talks** As peace talks are proposed, both sides continue aggressive military actions. On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported via Telegram that Russian forces shot down 142 Ukrainian drones overnight and into Sunday morning, with 27 downed in the Moscow region. The drone attacks disrupted operations at four Moscow airports—Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—resulting in 134 flight diversions. Vnukovo and Grabtsevo airports remained closed until 10 a.m. Moscow time on Sunday, according to Russia’s civil aviation monitoring agency Rosaviatsiya. Meanwhile, hours before Zelenskyy’s address, Russia launched widespread attacks on Ukraine. On Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces targeted 10 Ukrainian regions overnight on Friday, using over 340 explosives and 35 cruise and ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine’s military.

The ongoing violence underscores the challenges facing peace efforts, as both nations remain entrenched in their positions while expressing willingness to negotiate.