On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday, May 15, 2025. This came after both sides exchanged proposals over the weekend regarding steps for peace talks, with the U.S. playing a role in pushing for progress.
Zelenskyy said he is still hopeful for a ceasefire with Russia starting on Monday, May 12, 2025, and he will be waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday, as U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to accept Russia’s offer for direct talks.
Read More: Ukraine President Zelenskyy Rejects Putin’s Short Truce Offer, Calls It a Show
Ukraine, supported by European allies, has insisted on a 30-day ceasefire before talks can begin, but Russia rejected this and instead proposed direct negotiations without conditions. It’s not clear if Zelenskyy is linking his presence in Turkey to the ceasefire, and the Kremlin has not yet commented on whether Putin will attend.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy said he hopes for a ceasefire to end the killings and that he would be in Turkey to meet Putin “personally.” He also expressed his belief that Russia is starting to consider ending the war but emphasized the need for a ceasefire first.
We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2025
U.S. President Trump also weighed in, saying Ukraine should immediately accept Russia’s offer to talk and that it would help determine whether a deal is possible. He added that a ceasefire would save countless lives.
Meanwhile, Russian President Putin responded by proposing direct negotiations in Istanbul on May 15. He said a ceasefire could be agreed upon during the talks, but stressed that it must lead to a lasting peace, not just a temporary pause for Ukraine to rebuild its military.
French President Emmanuel Macron, after meeting with Zelenskyy, said that while Putin’s offer to talk is a positive step, it is not enough. He insisted that an unconditional ceasefire should come before any negotiations.
Read More: The West Looked Away. Putin Didn’t. What That Says About Global Hypocrisy
Turkey, which has offered to host the talks, said it is ready to assist in organizing the meeting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed full support for Putin’s proposal.
Zelenskyy, however, said he is still waiting for a clear answer from Russia regarding the ceasefire and pointed out that if Russia refuses, Western allies are ready to impose tougher sanctions.
Despite hopes for peace, the war continues. On Sunday, Russia resumed drone attacks on Ukraine after a three-day pause. Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down many of the drones, while Russia accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire and launching missiles into Russia.
As the situation unfolds, both sides are under pressure to find a way to end the conflict. Zelenskyy remains hopeful for talks and expects the ceasefire to begin on May 12.
