Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his decision to personally participate in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15, 2025, received full support from US President Donald Trump and other world leaders. Zelensky reported this on his Telegram channel, emphasizing that his visit to Turkey, even without Russia's ceasefire guarantees, demonstrates Kyiv's desire for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. However, experts express concerns that Putin's possible refusal to participate in the negotiations could be perceived by Trump as Moscow's unwillingness to compromise.

The talks in Istanbul were initiated by Russia on May 11. Later, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov announced his readiness for dialogue, taking into account the results of the 2022 meetings and the current situation on the front. Zelensky insists on a 30-day ceasefire from May 12 as a mandatory condition, but this demand was rejected by Moscow: Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russia considers discussing the root causes of the conflict a priority. The lack of a ceasefire has already led to new attacks: on May 12, several dozen Russian drones entered Ukrainian airspace.

According to Politico, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Trump on the phone during a visit to Kyiv, securing his support for the coalition, which is demanding a ceasefire and threatening Russia with sanctions. Trump, in turn, called on Ukraine to immediately agree to talks, expressing doubts about its readiness to compromise, Reuters reports. Turkey, which is acting as a mediator, confirmed its readiness to organize a meeting: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held consultations with Putin, supporting the idea of ​​a ceasefire.

Experts interviewed by Axios noted that Putin's absence from the talks could be interpreted by Trump as Russia's abandonment of the peace process, especially given that Moscow initiated it. This could lead to a hardening of the US position.