Austria Offers to Host Peace Talks on Ukraine Conflict

Austria has expressed its readiness to serve as a neutral platform for peace negotiations concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The announcement came from Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who shared his views after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

Nehammer, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), emphasized Vienna’s position as a neutral capital, offering itself as a venue for future peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

He highlighted that the discussions focused on "joint efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Moscow’s openness to peace negotiations based on the principles outlined in the Istanbul Agreements.

These agreements, initially proposed during talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials, have become a key reference in ongoing peace discussions.

Back in June, President Putin put forward a peace proposal that included an immediate ceasefire, contingent on Ukrainian forces withdrawing from newly acquired Russian territories.

The plan also called for Ukraine to abandon its NATO membership ambitions, adopt a neutral status, and disarm, ensuring it remained free of nuclear weapons. In addition, Putin insisted that international sanctions imposed on Russia be lifted.