Russia has proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, though the meeting has not been confirmed. The initiative, put forward by President Vladimir Putin on May 11, was discussed in a recent phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Moscow has called for talks without preconditions and has raised the prospect of a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by reiterating its demand for a 30-day ceasefire from Russia starting May 12 before any talks proceed. Zelensky acknowledged Putin’s proposal, stating he would be in Istanbul on Thursday, and called on Putin to join him for a face-to-face meeting. He also expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan and said he hoped Trump would attend.
Türkiye, not a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, can legally host Putin despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Fidan urged both parties to meet “as soon as possible” and expressed optimism about reaching a compromise. However, a deadlock remains over sequencing: Kyiv insists on a ceasefire first, while Moscow prefers talks before a ceasefire.
European and U.S. leaders have demanded Russia accept the 30-day ceasefire by Monday evening. Türkiye remains the only NATO country maintaining direct contact with both Kyiv and Moscow.