Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on May 15, 2025. The talks will be mediated by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Zelensky said that if Putin refuses to come to Ankara, he and Erdogan are ready to travel to Istanbul to ensure dialogue. The Ukrainian president's statement was another step in an attempt to restart the diplomatic process amid the ongoing conflict, but its implementation is questionable given the deep disagreements between the parties.

Zelensky specifically noted that he considers the accusations that he allegedly forbade himself from negotiating with Putin by a decree of November 2022, which approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on the impossibility of negotiations with the Russian leader, to be unfounded.

"I didn't forbid myself anything", - he stressed.

Zelensky's initiative echoes Turkey's active role in attempts to resolve the conflict. According to Reuters, Ankara has repeatedly offered its services as a mediator. In March 2022, talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul, which, however, did not lead to a breakthrough.