There has been a development that has raised hopes for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war. In a surprise statement on Sunday, May 11, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed starting direct negotiations in Istanbul on May 15 without any preconditions in order to establish a lasting peace with Ukraine and eliminate the root causes of the war. This unexpected initiative, which highlights Türkiye’s role as a mediator, was also welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky's Ceasefire Conditions
Putin’s offer to negotiate in Istanbul was welcomed on the Ukrainian front. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement on his official X account, evaluated this development as “a positive sign that the Russians are finally starting to think about ending the war.” However, Zelenskyy emphasized that the first and most important step in achieving a lasting peace is a ceasefire. Noting that “the first step to truly ending any war is a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy expressed that they expect a concrete step from Russia. “We expect Russia to confirm a full, permanent and reliable ceasefire as of tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to accept this,” Zelenskyy said, making it clear that Kiev is willing to sit at the negotiating table if Moscow accepts the ceasefire.
Intense Diplomatic Traffic from Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also carried out intensive diplomatic traffic regarding the possibility of reviving peace talks. On Sunday, May 11, he held separate phone calls with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. During his meeting with Russian President Putin, President Erdoğan conveyed that Turkey welcomed Russia’s statement that the peace talks with Ukraine would continue in Istanbul from where they left off. Emphasizing that Türkiye was always ready to host negotiations that would lead to a permanent solution, President Erdoğan stated that an important window of opportunity had opened for reaching peace and that a comprehensive ceasefire would provide the necessary ground for peace talks. Turkey-Russia bilateral relations and regional and global developments were also discussed during the meeting.
President Erdoğan gave a similar message in his phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. Expressing that a historic turning point had been reached on the path to ending the war between Ukraine and Russia and that this opportunity should be evaluated well, Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye was ready to make every contribution, including hosting negotiations to ensure a ceasefire and establish a lasting peace. In addition, it was emphasized during the conversation that it was of great importance to continue cooperation in the meticulous execution of the processes of starting permanent peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and restoring Ukraine to its feet after the war.
Istanbul Has Hosted Negotiations Before
Peace quests between Russia and Ukraine are not new. In the first months of the war, in 2022, military representatives from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul with the participation of the United Nations (UN). Although no concrete results were produced from the talks held at that time, Istanbul’s potential to bring the parties together came to the fore once again with this latest offer. Türkiye’s neutral and constructive stance makes Istanbul a suitable platform for possible peace talks.
Trump’s “Bloodbath” Comment
Former US President Donald Trump also made a statement on the social media platform Truth Social regarding Russia’s offer of negotiations. Trump stated that if the “bloodbath” of the war could be ended, it would be a great day for both Russia and Ukraine. “Potentially a great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved when this never-ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully ends,” Trump said, expressing his pleasure at the possibility of negotiations beginning.
Putin’s unexpected offer of talks in Istanbul and Zelensky’s conditional positive response to this have raised hopes for a lasting peace in the Ukraine war. President Erdoğan’s intense diplomatic efforts and Türkiye’s mediating role may be critical to the success of this process. However, Zelensky’s ceasefire condition and the deep distrust between the parties are also considered a sign of how difficult the negotiations will be. In the coming days, it is eagerly awaited how Russia will respond to Zelensky’s ceasefire call and whether the talks will actually begin in Istanbul on May 15. This initiative offers a historic opportunity to end this long-standing, bloody conflict.
