A low-ranking Russian delegation arrived in Turkey’s Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on Thursday (May 15, 2025), whereas a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and together with different senior authorities figures landed in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was not a part of the Moscow delegation, in keeping with an inventory launched by the Kremlin on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) night time, prompting criticism from Western officers that the Kremlin is not severe concerning the peace effort.
“Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Mr. Putin, would lead the Russian team that would also include three other senior officials,” the Kremlin stated. Mr. Putin additionally appointed 4 lower-level officers as “experts” for the talks.
Earlier this week, Mr. Zelenskyy challenged the Russian chief to fulfill in individual in Turkey to speak about ending the greater than three-year warfare. Mr. Zelenskyy stated he would journey to Ankara to fulfill with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and watch for Mr. Putin.
“Also in the Ukrainian delegation are Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the head of the Ukrainian Presidential office Andriy Yermak,” the official stated.
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He spoke on situation of anonymity for safety causes because the workforce had not but arrived in Ankara. “Now, after three years of immense suffering, there is finally a window of opportunity,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a NATO meeting taking place separately in Turkey. “The talks in Istanbul hopefully may open a new chapter.”
“But Mr. Zelenskyy will sit at the table only with Mr. Putin, Ukraine’s Presidential advisor,” Mykhailo Podolyak, stated.
“Details about when and where the Ukrainian delegation might meet their Russian counterparts are still unclear but is expected to be clarified after Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Erdogan meet,” in keeping with a Ukrainian official who requested anonymity to talk brazenly concerning the day’s plan.
TASS stated the talks have been to happen in a presidential workplace on the Bosporus. Mr. Putin on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) night held a gathering with senior authorities officers and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated. Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, and National Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu attended the assembly, amongst others.
Kyiv and its European allies had urged the Kremlin to comply with a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a primary step towards peace. Mr. Putin successfully rejected the proposal, providing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine as a substitute.
The Kremlin billed Thursday’s (May 15, 2025) talks as a “restart” of peace negotiations that have been held in Istanbul in the primary weeks of the warfare in 2022 however rapidly fell aside. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of eager to proceed preventing, whereas Kyiv stated Russia’s calls for amounted to an ultimatum relatively than one thing each side may agree on. Russia’s delegation then was additionally headed by Mr. Medinsky.
Mr. Putin’s proposal got here after greater than three months of diplomacy kickstarted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who promised throughout his marketing campaign to finish the devastating warfare swiftly. The Trump administration in latest weeks indicated that it would stroll away from the peace effort if there was no tangible progress quickly.
Mr. Trump had pressed for Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy to fulfill in Istanbul however stated on Thursday (May 15, 2025) he wasn’t stunned that Mr. Putin was a no-show. He disregarded Mr. Putin’s determination to not participate in the talks.
“I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” Mr. Trump stated throughout a roundtable in Doha, Qatar
The U.S. and Western European leaders have threatened Russia with additional sanctions if there isn’t any progress in halting the preventing.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham in the Turkish metropolis of Antalya late Wednesday (May 14, 2025) night time. Antalya (Turkey) on Thursday (May 15, 2025) is internet hosting NATO Foreign Ministers to debate new defence funding objectives because the U.S. shifts its focus to safety challenges away from Europe.
Mr. Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s assist for Mr. Trump’s mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to “reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps” towards peace. “So far, it has not,” Mr. Sybiha said.
On Thursday (May 15, 2025) morning, Mr. Sybiha also met with other European Foreign Ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a post on X reiterated the call for a ceasefire and the threat of “massive sanctions” if Russia doesn’t comply.
“We’re in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future,” Mr. Rubio said on Thursday (May 15, 2025).
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, also in Antalya for the NATO talks, accused Moscow of not being willing to to engage in a serious peace process.
“We have one chair empty, which is the chair of Vladimir Putin. So now I guess the entire world has realised that there’s only one party not willing to engage in serious peace negotiations, and that certainly is Russia,” Ms. Valtonen said.
Mr. Barrot echoed her sentiment: “In front of Ukrainians there is an empty chair, one that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin,” he stated. “Vladimir Putin is dragging his feet and in all evidence does not want to enter into these peace discussions.”
Published – May 15, 2025 05:15 pm IST
