Ukraine's pivotal peace meeting: Zelensky, Putin to face off in Turkey
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that he will be waiting for Vladimir Putin in Turkey on May 15th. Is the meeting with the Russian president a threat to Ukraine and Europe?
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will arrive in Turkey on May 15th to meet with Vladimir Putin for direct negotiations. Donald Trump also suggested he might appear, but only if Putin is present.
Zelensky emphasized that he would be ready to come to any city in Turkey if Putin decided not to travel to Ankara. Everything now depends on the decision of the President of Russia.
This situation is dangerous not only for Ukraine but also for the whole of Europe, highlights the independent Russian portal Meduza.
At the end of March and the beginning of April, following the stagnation in talks in Riyadh and the intensification of the bombardment of Ukrainian cities by Russia, Trump threatened the Kremlin with harsh measures but soon sent his chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff, to Russia. However, there were no effects at that time.
European ultimatum on the war
On May 10th, four European leaders—Macron, Starmer, Merz, and Tusk—unexpectedly arrived in Kyiv, presenting Russia with an ultimatum demanding an immediate 30-day ceasefire.
Two days earlier, Trump published a post in which the USA called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, threatening additional sanctions if it is not observed.
There are two possible scenarios for peace negotiations. The first assumes that the parties agree on the conditions for ending hostilities with the mediation of a third party, and then sign a ceasefire agreement. The second scenario assumes a ceasefire as the first step, after which the parties negotiate under "quiet" conditions.
Against the backdrop of Zelensky's ultimatum and the four European leaders, Putin reacted early on the morning of May 11th, proposing direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul. European leaders emphasized that negotiations only make sense in the case of a ceasefire.
The Meduza journalists questioned the purpose of initiating a new round of talks if the Kremlin plans to insist on its maximalist demands, which Kyiv views as a form of capitulation.
The ministerial talks will likely fail if Putin does not come to Istanbul. However, if Putin decides to travel, it will be a warning signal for Ukraine and Europe. Zelensky will have limited maneuvering space if Putin and Trump arrive with an agreement that Trump will require him to sign.
On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia will declare who will travel to the planned peace talks in Turkey "as soon as the president deems it necessary."
