On May 14, 2025, Kommersant reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would not represent the country at the Ukraine talks scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul. The Kremlin has not yet disclosed the composition of the delegation that will travel to Turkey to discuss a possible settlement of the conflict. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the names of the representatives would be announced only by decision of Vladimir Putin, maintaining the intrigue surrounding the participants of the meeting.

The Istanbul talks, initiated by Putin on May 11, were a continuation of attempts to resume the dialogue interrupted in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his participation, stressing that he is ready to negotiate only with Putin personally, despite his own 2022 decree prohibiting contacts with the Russian leader. However, according to The Washington Post, a direct meeting between the presidents is unlikely to take place: Putin is not planning a trip, and Russia will presumably be represented by high-ranking officials. Lavrov and presidential aide for foreign policy Yuri Ushakov were mentioned among possible candidates, but Kommersant denied the participation of the foreign minister, and the information about Ushakov remains unconfirmed.

Earlier, Telegram channels and media outlets, including The Washington Post, actively discussed Lavrov’s possible participation, citing unnamed sources.