ANKARA, Türkiye (AP) – Russia and Ukraine are preparing to engage in their first direct peace negotiations in three years, as announced on Thursday. However, hopes for a significant breakthrough remain low, especially after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that he is pushing for negotiations during his face-to-face meeting in Turkey.
Zelenskyy mentioned that Moscow is dispatching teams from Ankara to Istanbul, but expressed concern that “the person who actually makes the decision” is absent from these discussions.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, aims to “at least take the first step towards de-escalation and a ceasefire,” he noted.
Given that few expected Putin to travel to Türkiye, his absence heightens the challenges of the ongoing three-year conflict amidst recent diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration and European leaders. This absence also raises the likelihood of intensified international sanctions against Russia, which have been threatened by the West.
Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky speaks to a journalist on Thursday, May 15th, 2025 after arriving at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey.
AP Audio: Ukrainian Zelenskyy states he is dispatching a delegation to Istanbul for peace discussions with Russia.
Associated Press Correspondent Karen Chamas reports on the ongoing peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey.
Zelensky flew to Ankara on Thursday after Putin challenged him to meet, accusing Moscow of insufficient effort to resolve the conflict with a low-level negotiating team that he termed “theatre props.”
This proposal from Zelensky came as both sides sought diplomatic leverage amidst significant maneuvers over the past weekend.
Zelenskyy indicated that he decided to send a delegation to Istanbul to respond to US President Donald Trump while Ukraine aims to conclude the conflict.
According to the UN, the war has resulted in tens of thousands of military casualties on both sides along with over 12,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths. The Ukrainian government and Western military analysts report of fresh military attacks.
Authorities in eastern Ukraine reported at least five civilian deaths and 29 injuries over the past day as Russia continues its advance.
Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to President Putin and head of the Russian delegation, stated in Istanbul that their team is ready to engage with Ukrainian officials.
“The goal of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to achieve lasting peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict,” he emphasized.
The exact timing for the negotiations remains uncertain. TASS, a Russian state news agency, indicated that discussions would proceed, citing unnamed sources.
In this handout photo released by the Turkish presidency, Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Ukrainian counterpart Voldymir Zelensky during a meeting at Ankara’s Presidential Palace on Thursday, May 15, 2025 (via the Associated Press via the Turkish presidency).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that meetings will occur in Istanbul with the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ukrainian delegation and expressed hope that all parties will participate.
“We do not have high expectations for what will transpire tomorrow, and frankly, I think that the only potential for progress will occur between Presidents Trump and Putin,” Rubio shared with reporters in Antalya, Turkey. NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Ice Sahil, whose family has moved from the Bolsheviks in Russia, has a committee near Dolmabas Palace, where a meeting between a Russian and Ukrainian delegation is expected in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan previously hosted Zelensky at the Presidential Palace in Ankara for discussions. Zelenskyy is set to travel to Albania on Friday for a meeting with European officials.
Weekend Developments
The diplomatic maneuvering began on Saturday when European leaders met with Zelensky in Kiev and urged the Kremlin to agree to a complete, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a preliminary step toward peace. Putin responded early Sunday with a proposal for a direct meeting in Istanbul with Ukraine. Zelenskyy then publicly challenged Putin to meet in person.
After several days of silence, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov finally indicated that Putin has no plans to visit Istanbul in the near future.
Trump expressed that he was not surprised by Putin’s absence, noting he had encouraged both leaders to meet but deemed the Kremlin’s choice not to attend as expected.
“I didn’t think it would be impossible for Putin to go without him being present,” Trump stated to reporters in Doha, Qatar during his visit to the Middle East.
Trump emphasized that a meeting between himself and Putin would be crucial in overcoming the stalemate.
“Until (Putin) and I gather, I don’t foresee any developments, whether one likes it or not,” he remarked while traveling on Air Force One from Doha to Abu Dhabi. “But so many lives are at stake, so we must find a resolution.”
Peskov reiterated that there are no plans for Putin to meet with Trump in the coming days.
Putin’s aide, Medinsky, is leading the Russian delegation, which also comprises three other senior officials, and has appointed four subordinates to act as “experts” for the Istanbul meeting.
Turkish security guards are seen at Dolmabas Palace, where talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations are anticipated in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov were also absent from the scheduled meetings. Talks with the US in Saudi Arabia were held in March.
Ukrainian officials indicated that their top-level delegation includes Weelof, Foreign Minister Andri Sibikh, and Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andri Yamak. Zelenskyy stated he would only sit at the negotiation table with Putin, a sentiment echoed by President Mykhailo Podolyak.
Putin convened meetings with senior government officials and delegation members on Wednesday to prepare, according to Peskov. In attendance were Defence Minister Andrei Belusov, General Valerie Gerasimov, and National Security Council Secretary Sergei Sug.
Russia’s Rebooting Initiatives
The Kremlin has described the Istanbul discussions as a “reboot” of peace negotiations, initially held there in 2022. Moscow claims Ukraine and the West continue to prolong the conflict, while Kiev contends that Russia’s demands are ultimatum-like and unacceptable. Medinsky is at the forefront of the delegation.
Putin’s proposal for dialogue followed over three months of diplomatic initiatives led by Trump, which has proven challenging to detach from ongoing hostilities. The Trump administration has indicated it may scale back its efforts if immediate progress is not forthcoming.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiha met with Senators Rubio and Lindsey Graham in Antalya on Wednesday evening.
Sibiha expressed appreciation for Ukraine’s relationship with Trump’s mediation efforts and thanked the US for its ongoing participation, urging Moscow to “acknowledge Ukraine’s constructive moves” towards peace. “To this point, it has not responded,” Sibiha commented.
On Thursday morning, Sibiha interacted with other European foreign ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot.
“We find ourselves in a challenging situation right now, and we anticipate a breakthrough that can bring an end to this conflict and prevent future wars,” Rubio stated on Thursday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of “obstructing peace efforts.”
“Only one country initiated this conflict: Russia. And it is only one country that is currently hindering peace: Russia, headed by Putin,” he remarked during a visit in Tirana, Albania.
Barrot echoed this sentiment, noting, “Before the Ukrainians was an empty chair that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin. It is evident that Vladimir Putin is reluctant to engage in these peace discussions.”
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Contributors to this report include Associated Press Writer Lone Cook in Brussels, Ilya Novikov and Samiyah Karab from Kyiv, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, Aamer Madhani in Dubai, UAE, and Matthew Lee in Antalya, Türkiye.
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Follow AP’s reporting on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Source: apnews.com