Zelenskyy says ready to meet Putin in person in Istanbul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he will personally wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye on May 15.

“We are expecting a ceasefire from tomorrow [May 12] - a complete and long-term one, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in dragging out the killings. And I will wait for Putin on Thursday in Türkiye. Personally,” he emphasised, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

The president also added that he hopes that this time, the Russians will not look for reasons why they cannot.

Notably, Putin and Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, for direct peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between their nations. This marks the first face-to-face negotiation attempt between the two leaders since the breakdown of earlier talks in 2022.

Putin proposed the meeting without preconditions, emphasising the need for a “long-term, lasting peace.” However, Ukraine and its Western allies insist that Russia must first commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire before any negotiations proceed. European leaders, including those from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland, have demanded a ceasefire starting Monday, warning of severe sanctions if ignored. U.S. special envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg echoed this stance, emphasising “ceasefire first, talks later.”

Türkiye has offered to host the negotiations and is committed to supporting the peace process and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

By Khagan Isayev