On May 16, 2025, the first direct talks in more than three years between delegations from Ukraine and Russia began in Istanbul, aimed at finding ways to end the ongoing conflict.
The meeting is being held at the Dolmabahçe Palace, mediated by Turkey and attended by high-ranking US officials.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. It also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Polak, and other high-ranking representatives of law enforcement and diplomatic agencies.
The Russian side is represented by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Director of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GUGS) Igor Kostyukov, and other officials.
Before the start of the bilateral talks, trilateral meetings were held: first between Turkey, the US, and Ukraine, and then between Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also participating in the talks.
Reactions and expectations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment at the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the talks, saying that the Russian delegation “has no authority to make decisions.” He stressed that Ukraine is committed to achieving a 30-day ceasefire, while Russia insists on broader negotiations, including issues of territorial concessions and renouncing NATO membership.
The United States and European countries support the initiative to establish a 30-day ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said that significant progress is only possible if he meets with President Putin in person.
International support
China has expressed support for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, calling on all sides to reach a fair and lasting peace agreement.
Turkey, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to play an active role in mediating between the parties to the conflict, providing a platform for talks and facilitating dialogue.
Despite low expectations, the start of negotiations in Istanbul is seen as an important step towards a possible peaceful settlement.
During a press conference on Saturday night, Putin proposed starting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, according to Reuters.
Putin ignored the proposal by Ukraine and European leaders, supported by the US, for a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, May 12.
Instead, he said that a ceasefire could be discussed during direct talks.
“He said that Russia is offering direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in an attempt to ‘eliminate the root causes of the conflict’ and ‘achieve the restoration of long-term, lasting peace,’” Reuters quoted the Kremlin leader as saying.
As noted by the agency, Putin resorted to accusations against the Ukrainian authorities that are traditional for his rhetoric. In particular, he complained about the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.
As reported, on Saturday, May 10, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and Ukraine, following a meeting in Kyiv, adopted a joint statement proposing that Russia cease fire completely and unconditionally from Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. In the event of Russia’s refusal to accept the proposed ceasefire, they agreed to impose tougher sanctions on its banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet. The joint statement also mentioned the 17th package of EU sanctions and continued work on the effective use of frozen Russian assets.
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Istanbul to meet with Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The airplane with the Ukrainian leader and his accompanying delegation on board landed at Ataturk Airport, Turkish media reported.
As part of the visit of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky will meet with President Erdogan. A joint statement of the two leaders is expected to be signed following the talks.
The Joint Coordinating Center in Istanbul (JCC) is in contact with the Russian authorities in connection with the announcement of withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and called on the parties to refrain from actions that jeopardize the implementation of agreements.
“We have seen reports from the Russian Federation about the suspension of their participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative after the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. We are in touch with the Russian authorities on this issue,” the SKC said in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine.
“It is imperative that all parties refrain from any action that could jeopardize the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian initiative with a clear positive impact on food access for millions of people around the world,” SKC stressed in a commentary. .
As reported, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the withdrawal of Moscow from the agreements on the export of grain from the ports of Ukraine. They claim that allegedly Ukraine, with the participation of British specialists, carried out an attack “against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in ensuring the security of the” grain corridor “.
Ukraine is satisfied with the terms of the initiative signed in Istanbul on the safe transportation of grain and food from Ukrainian ports and is ready to resume exports from them in a few days, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said.
“In a few days we are ready to start exporting from the ports on the Black Sea,” he said via video link from Istanbul on the air of the national telethon, specifying that we are talking about the ports of Chernomorsk, Odessa and Pivdenny.
“I believe that we are signing the agreement on our terms, because our water area is completely controlled by us. No ‘zrada’. No one surrenders anything, everyone did it from a position of strength after the liberation of Snake Island,” Kubrakov emphasized.
According to him, there is no risk of Russian warships entering Ukrainian ports along the green corridors opened after mine clearance.
Commenting on the initiative, the minister added that none of the other parties would check anything in the Ukrainian water area and ports, and a selective inspection of ships in the Bosphorus area would be carried out by the Ukraine-RF-Turkey-UN joint four-party group.
Kubrakov noted that Ukraine is also interested in such control in order to remove the risk of ships with unchecked cargo arriving at Ukrainian ports.
A critical step towards ensuring the safe and reliable export of Ukrainian food products through the Black Sea was made on Wednesday in Istanbul at four-party talks involving Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN, UN Secretary General Antonio Guteres said.
“Today, an important and meaningful step has been taken towards a comprehensive agreement. Now more technical work will be required to materialize today’s progress,” he said at a briefing at the UN.
Guteres stressed that the goal of all parties is not just an agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but an agreement for the whole world.
