Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Istanbul on May 15, 2025, to participate in talks with Russia, even if Moscow rejects Kiev's proposed 30-day ceasefire, which was supposed to begin on May 12, the American publication Axios reports, citing a statement by a senior Ukrainian official. Zelensky's decision demonstrates his readiness for dialogue despite the lack of ceasefire guarantees from Russia, which underscores Kyiv's desire for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

The initiative for talks in Istanbul was voiced by Russia on May 11: Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that Moscow is ready for dialogue, which should take into account the results of the 2022 meetings and the current situation on the front. However, Zelensky insists on a 30-day truce as a mandatory condition to exclude the use of the pause for regrouping forces. Russia, in turn, rejected this demand: Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized that it is first necessary to discuss the root causes of the conflict. There have been no official comments from the Russian side on the statement about Zelensky's arrival.

US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to immediately agree to a meeting, expressing doubts about its willingness to compromise, Reuters reports. The "coalition of the willing," including France, Germany, Britain and Poland, is increasing pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Politico reports. Turkey, which is acting as a mediator, has confirmed its readiness to organize a meeting: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held consultations with Putin, supporting the idea of ​​a 30-day truce.