UPDATE: Tensions in Istanbul Over Ukraine: Zelensky Approves Start of Talks with Russia – Negotiations to Begin Friday, Says Tass
The situation remains tense as anticipation builds in Istanbul regarding the upcoming Ukraine-Russia negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly given the green light for talks to commence with Moscow, with sources indicating that discussions are set to begin this Friday, according to the Russian news agency Tass.
The news comes amidst a complex diplomatic landscape, with ongoing efforts to find a resolution to the conflict. While details remain scarce, the confirmation of Zelensky’s approval signals a potential step forward in diplomatic negotiations, which could impact the trajectory of the Ukraine war.
Meanwhile, international developments continue to unfold. US President Donald Trump, currently on a tour of Gulf countries, has suggested he may return to Washington tomorrow but noted that his exact destination remains uncertain. Earlier, Trump hinted at the possibility of making a stop in Istanbul for Ukraine-related discussions.
“We’re leaving tomorrow, as you know—almost with an unknown destination,” Trump stated while signing a visitor’s book at Abu Dhabi’s palace. “Because there will be appeals: Can you come here? Can you come? But most likely, we will return to Washington tomorrow,” he added.
In other diplomatic news, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to meet later today with the Russian delegation. However, according to Tass, due to logistical difficulties, no negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will take place today.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed skepticism about the upcoming talks in Turkey. He stated that meaningful progress would only be possible through direct talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rubio, speaking in Antalya, said he would travel to Istanbul on Friday to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan and a Ukrainian delegation but did not hold high expectations for the negotiations.
“I don’t believe we will see significant progress here until President Trump and President Putin speak directly on this issue,” Rubio remarked, echoing previous comments made by Trump.
As diplomatic efforts continue, tensions remain high, and the international community closely watches developments in Istanbul, hopeful for a breakthrough but wary of possible deadlock. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether dialogue can pave the way toward ending the conflict in Ukraine.
UPDATE: At 8:15 PM, the Russian delegation will be at Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkish sources say.
Details of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are slowly emerging, but nothing is yet considered certain.
According to the Hurriyet newspaper, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be at Dolmabahçe Palace at 8:15 PM.
“The goal of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is to achieve, sooner or later, long-term peace by eliminating the deeper… ” (The sentence fragment ends abruptly; the original Greek text likely continues.)
UPDATE: On May 15, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that delegations from Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, and possibly Russia will meet in Istanbul either today or tomorrow. Zelensky confirmed that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed on these talks, including a potential meeting with Russia, which he emphasized would be on the agenda. He reiterated Ukraine’s stance of never recognizing the currently occupied territories as part of Russia, asserting they remain Ukrainian land.
Russian envoy Vladimir Medinskij stated Moscow is ready to discuss possible compromises in Istanbul, referring to negotiations held in 2022 that collapsed. Zelensky approved the initiation of bilateral talks with Russia, marking the first such diplomatic engagement since 2022, focusing initially on a proposed 30-day ceasefire. The EU also called for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine for at least 30 days, emphasizing its importance for peace negotiations. However, Zelensky will not personally participate in the Istanbul talks, with Ukrainian negotiations team yet to be sent, and the meeting in Ankara concluded after nearly three hours.
UPDATE: No Agreement Yet on Talks Start Time, Says Tass
Currently, there is no agreed-upon time to begin negotiations in Istanbul, according to a source from Tass. Ukraine has not yet clarified its position and is reportedly considering sending a team to assess the Russian delegation’s authority to make decisions. Ukraine indicates it might meet if Russia shows a serious approach, but will dismiss the talks as a sham if Russia remains dismissive.
Preliminary Positions Before Istanbul Talks
Russia’s President Putin maintains maximalist demands, including recognition of territories in Ukraine controlled partly by Russia and the annexed Crimea. He cites issues like Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and claims Russia’s actions are justified by protecting Russian speakers and denazification. Ukraine, on the other hand, insists on the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and rejects any territorial concessions, especially over Crimea.
Diplomatic Tensions Continue
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Ukrainian President Zelensky and his wife “clowns” who are killing their own people, highlighting the ongoing hostility between the sides.
UPDATE: Trump Insists Nothing Will Happen Until He Meets Putin
In a recent statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized that no progress will be made regarding peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine until he personally meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Trump declared, “Nothing will happen until Putin and I meet, okay? And obviously, he wouldn’t go to Turkey. He would go, but he thought I would go. He wouldn’t go if I wasn’t there, and I don’t believe anything will happen—whether you like it or not—until we meet. But we need to resolve this because so many people are dying.”
Trump also addressed the recent high-level talks in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, which did not include Putin. He stated, “I’m not disappointed with anything. Why should I be? We just received four trillion dollars, and you’re upset over a delegation? I don’t know anything about the delegation; I haven’t even checked.”
Ukraine Responds to Russian Attacks and Lack of Negotiation
Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate in the ongoing conflict. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Georgiy Tuki, criticized Russia’s recent actions, highlighting that instead of Putin personally visiting Turkey to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss ending the war, Russia has resorted to personal insults against Zelensky. Tuki pointed out that “instead of the Russian president going to Turkey to have a serious discussion about ending the conflict and restoring peace, Kyiv hears only personal insults directed at Ukraine’s leader.”
He further remarked, “It’s not the first time the Russian Foreign Ministry has become a laughingstock. Also, the delegation in Turkey isn’t led by the Russian Foreign Ministry—they’re just barking from Moscow.”
Russian Official Attacks Zelensky and His Wife
Adding fuel to the fire, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued a derogatory comment regarding Ukrainian President Zelensky and his wife, Olena. She shared a photo of the Zelensky couple wearing traditional embroidered shirts and described them dismissively as “clowns” who are “killing their own people.”
Analysis
These statements reflect the complex and tense diplomatic landscape surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump’s insistence on a personal meeting with Putin underscores the importance some place on direct dialogue for conflict resolution, even amid ongoing hostilities. Conversely, Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange verbal attacks, complicating diplomatic efforts and highlighting the deep mistrust between the parties.
UPDATE: It was just reported that the President of Ukraine referred to the Russian delegation participating in the talks in Constantinople, representing Putin, as “decorative substitutes.”
In a statement from the office of the President of Ukraine, it is mentioned that a “high-level delegation has been sent, which is capable of preparing the necessary decisions.”
“We declare that, unfortunately, Russia has sent a low-level delegation with a vague mandate to Turkey. We will issue an update regarding Ukraine’s corresponding measures. We continue consultations with our partners,” the statement adds.
In response to Zelensky’s comment about the Russian delegation, the spokeswoman for the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “A clown and a loser is talking about respected people.”
Dozens of journalists have gathered outside the Dolmabahçe Palace in Constantinople, awaiting the start of the crucial negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
In recent hours, it had not been clear whether the talks would begin today or tomorrow. Russian sources mentioned a start time of 10 a.m. today, while the Ukrainian side had suggested the meeting would take place tomorrow.
However, shortly before noon, Maria Zakharova announced that the talks had been postponed until the afternoon, at the initiative of the Turkish side. “Our delegation is in Istanbul, its composition is known, and the relevant information has been published. The negotiations, at Turkey’s initiative, have been postponed to the second half of the day,” said the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have indicated that they will not attend the talks—marking the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the war in Ukraine.
However, the U.S. President left open the possibility of traveling to Turkey tomorrow if there is progress in the talks. “You know, if something happens, I’ll go on Friday,” Trump said from Qatar, the second stop on his tour of the Gulf countries. When asked about the absence of his Russian counterpart from the talks, the Republican commented: “Why would he go if I’m not there? I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to attend if I’m not present.”
On his part, Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet today in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after which he will decide on the next steps in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior Ukrainian official. “The president begins his visit with Erdoğan in Ankara and will then decide on the next stages,” the official explained. According to another source, Zelensky is already aboard the plane taking him to Ankara.
The Russian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine and is ready for serious negotiations, Maria Zakharova said earlier on Thursday. “As has been stated many times, the Russian side is ready for serious negotiations.” The plane carrying the Russian delegation has landed in Constantinople, according to a source cited by Ria Novosti.
Talks Without Trump and Putin
Putin had proposed these direct talks with the Ukrainian side “without preconditions” on Sunday.
Late on Wednesday, the Kremlin announced the members of the Russian delegation, which includes seasoned technocrats such as Putin’s advisor Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. However, Putin’s name was not on the list.
Following this announcement, a U.S. official stated that Trump, who is on a tour of Gulf countries, will not take part in the negotiations. The absence of both the U.S. and Russian presidents lowers the likelihood of significant progress in the talks.
The U.S. delegation attending the negotiations includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said earlier today that he met with Rubio to present Zelensky’s vision for peace and “to coordinate our positions during this critical week.”
Rubio: The U.S. Is “Eager” to See Progress
The United States is “eager” to see progress in the Ukraine talks “over the next two days,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today. “There’s a lot of work to be done. We remain committed to this path. Obviously, like everyone, we’re hopeful, we want it to happen, but it’s difficult (…) we hope there will be progress soon,” Rubio stated from Antalya, Turkey, ahead of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ summit.
Rubio also noted that President Donald Trump is open to any mechanism that leads to a just peace in the Ukraine war and emphasized that there is no military solution to the conflict.
Putin Held Preparatory Meeting for Russian Delegation
On the evening of May 14, Vladimir Putin held a preparatory meeting ahead of the talks with the Ukrainian side in Turkey, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed today.
“On the eve of our delegation’s departure for Istanbul, President Putin held a meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming negotiations,” Peskov noted, adding that besides the members of the Russian negotiating team, attendees included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, National Guard Chief Viktor Zolotov, Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov.
The duration of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations beginning today in Istanbul will depend on their progress, Peskov told TASS. “Today marks the beginning of the negotiations. Everything will depend on their progress,” he said when asked whether the talks could last several days if necessary.
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