Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “afraid” to meet directly, as the two nations held their first face-to-face talks in over three years in Istanbul on May 16, 2025. The discussions, which lasted under two hours, aimed to address the ongoing conflict but ended with low expectations for progress.
Kyiv is seeking an “unconditional ceasefire” in the conflict, which has resulted in significant destruction across Ukraine and the displacement of millions. Moscow, on the other hand, aims to tackle the “root causes” of the war and revive the stalled negotiations from 2022, where it made extensive territorial and political demands.
The meeting, held at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, brought together Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian delegations. Despite the short duration, a source from the Turkish foreign ministry indicated the talks concluded after just over 90 minutes.
During the negotiations, a Ukrainian diplomatic source described Russia’s territorial demands as “unacceptable,” suggesting they were intended to derail the talks. Further discussions may occur, but none are currently scheduled.
At a European summit in Albania, Zelensky called for a “strong reaction” from the international community if the talks fail, including new sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky accused Russia of sending “empty heads” to the negotiations. He expressed concern over Putin’s reluctance to participate directly, criticizing Russia for not taking the discussions seriously.
Despite the lack of substantial progress, the very fact that the meeting took place indicates some movement, influenced by pressure from Washington for both sides to engage in dialogue.
While Zelensky emphasized the urgency of establishing a ceasefire to halt violence and lay the groundwork for diplomacy, he warned that failure to reach an agreement would clearly demonstrate Putin’s unwillingness to engage in genuine negotiations.
Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian officials met with high-level U.S. representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
During the talks, Russian representatives were reported to have made hardline territorial demands, leading to accusations that they were deliberately trying to sabotage the negotiations.
Despite criticism of the Russian delegation’s low-level representation, they insisted they had a mandate from Putin to seek possible solutions, while reiterating that Russia would not discuss relinquishing any territory it occupies
