Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on May 11 that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine be restarted on May 15 in Istanbul, Turkey, marking a potential shift in the deadlocked conflict. The announcement came a day after European leaders, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting May 12, threatening coordinated Western sanctions if Russia refused.
The Kremlin dismissed the ultimatum as "futile pressure," with Putin instead urging talks to address the "root causes" of the conflict and establish "lasting historical peace."
Zelensky responded on May 12, stating he was prepared to meet Putin in Turkey but insisted on a prior ceasefire. "We expect a full and lasting cessation of hostilities starting today," he said, while adding he would "wait in Turkey" for the Russian leader. Analysts remain skeptical, however, pointing to unresolved preconditions and entrenched disagreements. A 2022 Ukrainian decree banning negotiations with Putin remains in force, and Kyiv's reliance on Western support raises doubts about its autonomy in decision-making.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the West of seeking to buy time for Ukraine to "rebuild its military potential." U.S. Foreign Policy Institute analyst Maximilian Hess called Zelensky's willingness to meet a "performative gesture" aimed at appeasing Washington, particularly amid pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed interest in attending the talks during his Middle East tour. "If I think progress is possible, I might fly there," Trump said, though his role remains unclear.
Core disputes continue to hinder progress. Russia demands guarantees that Ukraine abandon NATO aspirations and halt Western military aid, while Kyiv insists on retaining sovereignty over occupied territories and maintaining its path toward NATO membership. Additionally, Moscow rejects any deployment of European "peacekeepers" in Ukraine. Chinese scholar Sun Zhuangzhi noted the lack of mutual trust, emphasizing that Ukraine's insistence on a ceasefire as a precondition clashes with Russia's refusal to concede without negotiations.
The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky occurred in 2019, and relations have since deteriorated into open warfare. With both sides accusing each other of bad faith, prospects for a breakthrough appear slim. As Reuters reported, uncertainty surrounds whether Putin will even attend the proposed talks. For now, diplomatic maneuvering and entrenched red lines suggest the path to peace remains fraught with obstacles.
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