Kremlin renews call for Istanbul talks, no word on Putin-Zelensky meeting

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Kremlin reaffirmed President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for renewed direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to be held in Istanbul later this week.

Although it stopped short of confirming whether Putin would meet in person with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The proposal, first raised by Putin on Sunday, suggests resuming face-to-face negotiations, which last occurred in Istanbul in March 2022.

However, Putin appeared to dismiss Ukraine’s recent call, supported by European allies, for a 30-day ceasefire, signaling a reluctance to agree to a temporary truce as a precondition.

In response, Zelensky publicly challenged Putin to a direct meeting in Istanbul, specifically proposing Thursday as the date for the talks.

When questioned about the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered limited clarity.

He told reporters that all he could confirm was that international leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had reacted positively to Putin’s proposal.

According to Peskov, they welcomed it with “understanding and support.”

Peskov reiterated Russia’s official stance, stating that the Kremlin remained “committed to a serious effort toward a long-term peaceful resolution.”

However, he provided no specifics on whether President Putin would personally attend the talks, leaving open questions about the format and level of engagement Russia intends to pursue.

Notably, Putin and Zelensky have not met in person since December 2019.

This is more than two years before Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Since then, communication between the two sides has largely been limited to indirect channels.

Formal negotiations have been reportedly suspended amid ongoing military conflict.

At this point, both Moscow and Kyiv seem eager to frame themselves as cooperative with recent calls from Donald Trump advocating for a rapid peace settlement in Ukraine.

Each side has attempted to portray the other as obstructing efforts toward peace.

This alignment with Trump’s position, reflects the broader geopolitical implications surrounding the negotiations.

This is supposedly despite his lack of official authority in the ongoing conflict.

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to an online news media, confirmed that Zelensky still plans to travel to Turkey later this week.

This is regardless of whether Russia agrees to the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv.

This move underscores Ukraine’s attempt to take the diplomatic initiative and maintain pressure on Moscow, even without Russian commitment to the terms.

Despite Zelensky’s challenge, several Russian lawmakers have publicly expressed skepticism that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky will happen in Istanbul.

Appearing on state-run television, Russian senators downplayed the likelihood of such high-level talks taking place, suggesting internal resistance or hesitancy from Moscow.

Adding to the diplomatic tension, Germany issued a stern warning earlier on Monday, threatening additional European Union sanctions if Russia did not agree to the proposed ceasefire by the end of the day.

This ultimatum was met with a sharp rebuttal from the Kremlin.

Peskov firmly rejected the EU’s position, stating that Russia would not be coerced by threats.

“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable to Russia.

“It is not appropriate.

“You cannot speak to Russia in such terms,” he declared, making clear that Moscow views such pressure as counterproductive.

The unfolding situation leaves open significant uncertainty about whether the proposed talks in Istanbul will materialize and what form they might take.

While both Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume dialogue, their preconditions and diplomatic signals remain at odds.

The involvement of international figures like Trump and Erdoğan further complicates the picture, as each side attempts to leverage global influence to shape the trajectory of potential peace efforts.

As of now, no official confirmation has been made regarding the attendance of either president at the Istanbul meeting.

It has reportedly left open the possibility of lower-level negotiations or even a complete diplomatic stalemate.

The coming days will be critical in determining whether this proposed engagement can serve as a foundation for de-escalation or simply another missed opportunity in the ongoing conflict.

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