Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that peace talks with Russia are scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul, but only if Moscow agrees to a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, May 12.
Describing Russia’s offer to re-enter direct negotiations as a “positive sign,” Zelensky stressed the need for an immediate halt to hostilities. “There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day,” he said via social media. “The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. The very first step in ending any war is a ceasefire.”
This marks a notable shift in tone from Kyiv, which has rarely acknowledged any diplomatic outreach from Moscow since Russia invaded in early 2022. The last direct talks between the two sides also took place in Istanbul but failed to produce a lasting agreement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Turkey’s readiness to host the discussions, calling it a “window of opportunity” for peace in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia now controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory and claims to have annexed four regions in addition to Crimea, which it seized in 2014. The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a deepening rift between Moscow and the West.
On Saturday, leaders from France, the UK, Germany, and Poland—backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—pressed Russia to agree to a ceasefire. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, reiterated that Kyiv would only participate in the May 15 talks if Moscow commits to the 30-day ceasefire. “First, a 30-day ceasefire, then everything else,” he said.
While Ukraine has been clear in its precondition, President Putin has yet to directly respond to the proposed truce. At a late-night Kremlin press conference, he offered to resume the 2022 Istanbul negotiations “without preconditions,” suggesting the talks begin Thursday.
“We do not exclude that during these talks, we will be able to agree on some new ceasefire,” Putin said, while accusing the West of pushing an anti-Russian agenda and issuing ultimatums.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Moscow to commit to the ceasefire unconditionally, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Russia’s willingness to talk but said it “is far from sufficient.”
U.S. President Trump called the development a “potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” and pledged U.S. support in brokering peace.
Despite the diplomatic push, Kyiv accused Russia on Sunday of launching over 100 drones at Ukrainian targets just hours after a previously announced 72-hour truce expired at midnight.
