The proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to participate in the upcoming Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations has sparked a wave of diplomatic activity, as nations from Europe to the Middle East explore potential solutions to the most lethal conflict in Europe since World War II. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested direct discussions with Ukraine, and following Trump’s public encouragement for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to agree, Zelenskiy responded affirmatively, insisting that Putin should attend in person.
“Don’t underestimate the meeting in Türkiye on Thursday — President Erdogan will be a great host,” said US President Donald Trump, expressing optimism ahead of the Russia-Ukraine talks set to take place in Istanbul on 15 May pic.twitter.com/Pz1htpyh2Q
— TRT World (@trtworld) May 12, 2025
In an unexpected turn on Monday, Trump, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar this week, expressed his willingness to join the Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul, a city that bridges Europe and Asia. ‘I have numerous meetings planned, but I was contemplating actually flying over there. It’s a possibility if I believe progress can be made, but we need to finalize it,’ Trump remarked before embarking on his second international trip since beginning his second term in January. ‘Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey,’ he added.
Following Trump’s proposal, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with European officials, including the foreign ministers of Britain and France, as well as the EU’s foreign policy chief, regarding a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also participated in the call alongside his German and Polish counterparts.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Kremlin has consistently expressed gratitude to China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar for their mediation efforts.
Since February 2022, when Putin deployed thousands of troops into Ukraine, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and has led to the most serious confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Last year, Reuters reported that Putin was open to negotiating a ceasefire with Trump, but Moscow, feeling strong in the conflict, has ruled out any significant territorial concessions and demands that Kyiv abandon its ambitions.
draft agreement from 2022
Following Trump’s suggestion for Zelenskiy to consider Putin’s proposal for discussions, the Ukrainian leader expressed his readiness to meet Putin in Istanbul. However, the Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday, ‘We are dedicated to earnestly seeking a long-term peaceful resolution.’ Before further inquiries could be made regarding the talks, Peskov concluded, ‘That’s all. I’ve shared everything I can about this matter.’ The Kremlin has frequently referenced a draft agreement from 2022 that was negotiated between Russia and Ukraine shortly after the onset of the Russian invasion.
According to this draft, Ukraine would need to commit to permanent neutrality in exchange for international security assurances from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States. If Zelenskiy and Putin, who openly express disdain for one another, were to meet on Thursday, it would mark their first in-person encounter since December 2019.
Ukraine and its European partners have informed Russia that it must accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday or face new sanctions, although the Kremlin has stated it will not respond to ultimatums.
Russian forces currently control nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, including all of Crimea, most of Luhansk, and over 70% of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, according to Russian estimates. While Russia continues to make progress, albeit at a slower pace than in 2024, both sides have reported ongoing fighting along the front lines, although some believe the discussions in Istanbul could provide an opportunity to halt the violence.
Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the international affairs committee in the Federation Council, Russia’s upper parliamentary house, stated in an interview with Izvestia published on Tuesday that discussions between Moscow and Kyiv could progress beyond the level achieved in 2022. He expressed confidence that if the Ukrainian delegation arrives at the negotiations prepared to forgo ultimatums and seek mutual understanding, significant advancements could be made, as reported by Izvestia.
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