Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and a persistent diplomatic deadlock, Russian President Vladimir Putin has unexpectedly proposed direct negotiations with Kyiv. According to the Kremlin, these talks could take place in Istanbul in the coming days. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is ready to meet Putin personally—on one condition: a full, reliable, and lasting ceasefire starting Monday, May 12.
As Le Monde reports, for the first time, the prospect of not just negotiations but a potential one-on-one meeting between the two leaders is being seriously considered. While neither side has formally confirmed the summit, the very fact that such discussions are happening results from active European diplomacy and mounting pressure from Donald Trump. The former U.S. president, using his Truth Social platform, wrote:
“Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine—he wants a meeting in Turkey on Thursday to negotiate a possible end to the bloodshed. Ukraine should agree immediately.”
Trump believes that such talks would at least allow both sides to test the waters for a peace deal and enable Western leaders to understand who truly obstructs a resolution.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the British and Polish prime ministers, Keir Starmer and Donald Tusk, remain more skeptical. They argue that no talks can be meaningful without an initial ceasefire. After visiting Kyiv, the four leaders reconvened to evaluate Putin’s rejection of their joint initiative for an immediate halt to hostilities.
According to Le Monde, even Ukraine’s allies advised Zelensky not to ignore the Kremlin’s signal—at least from a tactical standpoint. As one diplomat explained:
“Everyone wants to show the Americans that they are not the obstacle to peace. Zelensky cannot afford to look like a warmonger in Trump’s eyes. And there’s a strong chance that Putin will stall and end up appearing as the one blocking progress.”
Turkey’s Pivotal Role
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has long tried to act as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, confirmed his country’s readiness to host the talks. This would not be Turkey’s first attempt: in March 2022, Istanbul and Antalya hosted direct meetings between the two sides. Back then, Moscow demanded Ukraine’s capitulation, neutrality (a NATO ban and military downsizing), and “denazification”—a term widely interpreted as a call for Zelensky’s removal. Those talks failed.
Erdoğan, however, managed to play a key role in securing the Black Sea Grain Initiative with the UN. Yet this deal, too, collapsed in 2023 when Russia refused to renew it.
Now, Turkey once again finds itself at the heart of diplomacy. As Le Monde notes, Erdoğan sees the potential summit as an opportunity to restore his international status and reposition Ankara as a power broker.
Mistrust and the Diplomatic Trap
Despite the buzz, skepticism abounds. Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko points out that trust between Kyiv and Moscow has been obliterated and that their negotiating positions remain fundamentally incompatible.
“The two sides hate each other, don’t trust each other, and their stances on occupied Ukrainian territories are radically opposed,” he explains.
Fesenko believes Putin’s offer to revive the 2022 Istanbul talks is a tactical move:
“If Ukraine refuses, he’ll accuse them of rejecting peace. If they agree, Russia will issue ultimatums. Most likely, Moscow will simulate negotiations while continuing, or even escalating, its military campaign.”
European officials share these fears. The Élysée Palace said Macron spoke with Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Erdoğan, stressing that without a ceasefire, a Zelensky-Putin summit would be pointless.
The Putin–Trump Power Game
At the center of this diplomatic puzzle is the evolving dynamic between Putin and Trump. Kremlin-friendly analyst Fyodor Lukyanov asserts that Russia’s position remains unchanged: no ceasefire without a broader peace agreement.
“Military activity will only stop once a peace deal is signed. The battlefield momentum currently favors Moscow,” he argues.
He also dismisses Western threats:
“European proposals rarely work in practice. New sanctions don’t scare us. But Russia isn’t shutting the door to talks—that’s an important signal.”
Another anonymous Russian analyst adds that the Kremlin is walking a fine line:
“They’re playing for time, but don’t want to outright reject a proposal from Trump. They want to preserve the positive relationship that’s beginning to form.”
In the Kremlin’s view, “direct talks” refer to a revival of the Istanbul format—led by negotiators, not presidents. Zelensky’s response, insisting on a personal meeting, is seen by Russian commentators as a veiled refusal of Moscow’s terms while still appearing diplomatically open.
As Le Monde underscores, the chance of genuine peace talks remains slim. Still, the political theater involving Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv is intensifying. For Zelensky, the challenge now is not only to hold the frontlines but also to maintain diplomatic footing—especially in Trump’s eyes, as the former U.S. president seeks to position himself as a global dealmaker.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Le Monde. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Le Monde.
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