Zelenskyy Pushes for Direct Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey as Trump Mulls Attendance

In a bid to end the war Zelenskyy Pushes for Direct Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey as Trump Mulls Attendance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday intensified international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin by urging him to attend direct peace talks in Turkey scheduled for Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Zelenskyy Pushes for Direct Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey as Trump Mulls Attendance

Zelenskyy Calls for Putin to Attend Peace Talks in Turkey

Speaking from Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the West should impose massive sanctions if Putin refuses to show up, accusing the Russian leader of avoiding genuine efforts to end the war.

Zelenskyy made it clear: “I will go to Turkey and I’m ready to meet Putin. This war can only end through direct talks with him.” The Ukrainian president also said he invited U.S. President Donald Trump to attend, hoping Trump’s presence would push Putin to participate.

Trump Considers Joining Turkey Peace Talks

While attending a Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would attend the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul. Trump stated, “These talks could produce some pretty good results.”

He added he is “thinking about” flying to Turkey depending on how events unfold during his Middle East tour.

“I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said. “I’ve got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there.”

Despite the uncertainty around Trump’s attendance, his top foreign envoys Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff are confirmed to be part of the U.S. delegation in Istanbul.

Kremlin Silent as Pressure Mounts

Though Putin himself proposed renewed talks over the weekend, the Kremlin has remained silent on whether he will attend the Istanbul summit.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said preparations were underway, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that an official decision from Putin would come “in due course.”

Zelenskyy warned that if Putin refuses to attend, it should be seen as a clear rejection of peace. “Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a ceasefire, does not want any negotiations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russian airstrikes continued in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, killing at least two people, signaling that Moscow has not eased military pressure on the battlefield.

Europe Urges Ceasefire or Sanctions

Ukraine’s European allies, including France, Germany, and Poland, issued a joint ultimatum over the weekend: agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face new, tougher sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both warned that Russia would face fresh sanctions if it continued to avoid meaningful talks.

EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas doubted Putin’s courage to meet Zelenskyy directly. “I think it’s a good move if they sit down,” she said. “But I don’t think he dares, Putin.”

The European Union has already implemented 16 rounds of sanctions against Russia since the invasion began in 2022. European ministers met in London this week and echoed concerns that Moscow is not serious about peace.

First Direct Talks Since 2022 Invasion

If held, the Istanbul meeting would mark the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia since March 2022, when early talks failed to secure a resolution. Zelenskyy insists that no talks will occur unless Putin himself is present, saying, “Everything in Russia depends on him.”

Russia, on the other hand, continues to insist on addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the war, including Ukraine’s so-called “de-Nazification” and the incorporation of new territories into the Russian Federation narratives Kyiv and its allies dismiss as propaganda and imperialism.

Front Line Static Despite Talks

Despite the diplomatic developments, the situation on the ground remains tense. Russian forces continue to press forward along the eastern front, although gains have been minimal in recent months.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports Russia may be preparing for escalation, even deploying FSB ceremonial regiments to intimidate Ukrainian defenders.

Zelenskyy warned that the Russian military has not slowed down, with daily drone and missile attacks still targeting Ukrainian cities. “Russian shelling and assaults continue,” he said in his nightly address.

“Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence.”

Can Trump Influence Peace?

Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war swiftly, a key campaign promise of his second term. But frustration has grown within his administration over the lack of compromise between the two warring nations.

While Trump’s participation in Turkey could shift dynamics, whether Putin is willing to negotiate in person remains the central unanswered question.

As the world watches, Thursday’s Turkey peace summit could become a defining moment in the war or another missed opportunity.

Conclusion

The Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey hold potential to spark the first real ceasefire in over three years of conflict. But Putin’s absence could doom the talks before they begin. Zelenskyy’s call for Trump’s involvement reflects Ukraine’s hope that U.S. leadership can still tip the scales toward peace.

With mounting international pressure and the threat of new EU and U.S. sanctions, all eyes are now on Istanbul and on Vladimir Putin’s next move.

Also Read: Russia and Ukraine Agree to Largest Prisoner Swap Since 2022, But Ceasefire Remains Elusive

Also Read: Putin skips Ukraine talks in Turkey as Russia shirks pressure from Trump, hurls insults at Zelenskyy instead