Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on 15 May.
This announcement follows last week’s proposal by Ukraine and a coalition of willing nations for a 30-day ceasefire starting 12 May, announced during European leaders’ visit to Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Ukraine to peace talks in Istanbul beginning 15 May but notably did not agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire. During a press conference, Putin claimed Russia is “ready for negotiations without any preconditions.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that he would only attend the upcoming Istanbul peace summit on 15 May if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also present.Zelenskyy also said later that he and Erdogan are prepared to travel to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to meet there.
"We will be waiting for a meeting with Putin in Türkiye," Zelenskyy told journalists on 13 May.
The Ukrainian leader explained they had already arranged the 15 May meeting with Erdogan in Ankara. He addressed potential location concerns from the Russian side.
"Russia cannot manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara but only to Istanbul... if Putin flies to Istanbul instead of the capital, I have sent a signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready for us to fly to Istanbul with President Erdogan," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president emphasized his commitment to the talks. "We will do everything for this meeting to happen," he said.
Zelenskyy said that only Putin can make decisions about a ceasefire. "I can only negotiate a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin because only he decides this," the Ukrainian president said.
US President Donald Trump was invited to join the meeting, though Zelenskyy said he does not know Trump's decision. "In any case, if he confirmed his participation, it would give additional impetus for Putin to come," Zelenskyy said.
Special envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul where negotiations between Ukraine and Russia may take place on 15 May.
Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said Putin's refusal to come to Türkiye would be "the final signal" about Russia's unwillingness to end the war.
The Kremlin claimed that the Russian side "continues preparations for negotiations" in Istanbul on 15 May and provided no further comments.
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