Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his intention to discuss key issues of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange on an "all for all" basis with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the event of a personal meeting scheduled for May 15, 2025, in Istanbul. In an interview with the French publication Liberation, Zelensky stressed that the success of the negotiations should bring a "political victory" in the form of concrete steps towards peace.

"If I meet him, we have to come out with a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange or something like that. It's impossible to agree on everything at once, but we have to find a format," - he noted.

Zelensky emphasized the lack of trust between the parties, stating that "the Russians will not trust the Ukrainians, and the Ukrainians will not trust the Russians." In his opinion, only external mediators, among whom he singled out the United States, can provide guarantees of compliance with the agreements.

"Kyiv and Moscow take Washington seriously" — the Ukrainian leader said, adding that the presence of US President Donald Trump in Istanbul could encourage Putin to personally participate in the negotiations.

The Istanbul meeting initiative comes after Putin’s statement on May 11 rejected an offer from Ukraine and its Western allies for a 30-day ceasefire, accusing Kyiv of violating previous agreements. Instead, he proposed direct talks without preconditions, setting a date of May 15. Zelensky, for his part, confirmed his readiness to travel to Turkey even if Russia does not declare a ceasefire from May 12, which Axios reported was a surprise move. The BBC reported that Zelensky plans to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but is willing to travel to Istanbul if Putin agrees to a meeting there.