Trump, Putin to skip potential Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul

In a major setback for hopes of a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war, both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have indicated they will not attend what could be the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years, set to take place in Istanbul on May 15.

Despite proposing the talks last weekend, Putin will not be part of the Russian delegation, the Kremlin announced late on May 14. Instead, it is sending a team of seasoned officials led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, as reported by Reuters.

After the Kremlin confirmed Putin's absence, a U.S. official said Trump — currently on a three-nation tour of the Middle East — would also skip the meeting, though he had earlier said he was considering participation.

While Putin never explicitly confirmed his attendance, the absence of both the Russian and American presidents has significantly lowered expectations for any substantial diplomatic progress in ending the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who departed for Türkiye late on May 14, had conditioned his participation on Putin’s presence. “If he's not afraid,” Zelenskyy had challenged the Kremlin leader, suggesting that the peace talks are also a test of leadership before the international community.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s stance:
"The answers to all questions about this war – why it started, why it continues – all these answers are in Moscow," he said. "How the war will end depends on the world."

While Trump is pushing for a 30-day ceasefire to halt what has become Europe’s largest land war since World War Two, Putin wants the talks to first address the terms of any ceasefire before making commitments. Ukrainian officials say they are ready to back the 30-day truce.

According to a Russian lawmaker, the meeting may also involve discussion of a large prisoner exchange — a topic that has resurfaced repeatedly since the war began.

Frustrated by delays and perceived intransigence from both sides, Trump warned of additional punitive measures against Moscow. He said he was “always considering” secondary sanctions if Russia was found to be obstructing the peace process. U.S. officials are reportedly evaluating options, including new financial measures and penalties targeting buyers of Russian oil.

The U.S. delegation to Istanbul includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported meeting with Rubio early on May 15, saying they discussed Zelenskyy's vision for peace and coordinated positions “during this critical week.”

The Russian delegation includes familiar faces from earlier rounds of diplomacy. Both Medinsky and Fomin participated in the initial peace efforts between the two countries in March 2022, just weeks after Russia launched what it calls a “special military operation” to eliminate neo-Nazis — a justification widely rejected by Ukraine and its allies as an imperial-style land grab.

At present, Russian forces occupy roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Despite growing international calls for compromise, Moscow has shown little willingness to make concessions. Still, Putin framed this week’s proposed talks as a step toward “a durable peace.”

He also referenced the failed 2022 draft agreement, under which Ukraine would have accepted permanent neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — along with other countries including Belarus, Canada, Germany, Israel, Poland and Türkiye.

However, Kyiv has made clear that any neutrality clause remains a non-starter. Ukrainian officials say such a concession is a red line they will not cross.

By Khagan Isayev