On May 17, 2025, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that all constructive proposals at the Istanbul talks held on May 16 came from the Russian delegation, and Ukraine, despite sarcastic comments from President Volodymyr Zelensky, acknowledges this. Zakharova reported this at a briefing, commenting on the results of the first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since March 2022.

However, the US and Europe do not consider Russia's proposals constructive, which, it claims, hinders progress in resolving the conflict.

The talks in Istanbul, held at the Dolmabahce Palace under the mediation of Turkey, were led by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to Reuters, Russia put forward a number of demands, including neutral status for Ukraine, recognition of Crimea and four regions as Russian territory, and an end to Western arms supplies to Kyiv.

The West's reaction to Russia's proposals was sharply negative. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in a parallel trilateral meeting of the US, Turkey and Ukraine in Istanbul, said that "a breakthrough is only possible with direct dialogue between Presidents Trump and Putin," calling Moscow's current proposals "unrealistic." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to the BBC, stressed that Europe supports the demand for a 30-day ceasefire and is ready to impose new sanctions against Russia if it refuses. MEP Thierry Mariani called Zelensky's position "unrealistic," but acknowledged that the West does not see a basis for compromise in Russia's proposals.