Putin and Trump are missing: Selenskyj's desperate appeal in Istanbul!

Putin and Trump are missing: Selenskyj's desperate appeal in Istanbul!

On May 15, 2025, it becomes clear that the hopes for direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine will be disappointed in Turkey. Vladimir Putin has announced that it should not take part in the negotiations that are to take place in Istanbul. US President Donald Trump also decided to stay away from the peace negotiations. These cancellations will again raise questions about the future negotiating situation in the Ukraine conflict.

Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj had previously invited the Russian president to the talks. He emphasized that it was "Putin's war" and that Putin also had to take part in the negotiations. Despite the challenges, Selenskyj is ready to personally travel to Istanbul and negotiate with Putin. He expressed hope that Trump will not withdraw his announced participation, if Putin still rethinked his cancellation.

The role of delegations

The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinski, the presidential advisor, and Alexander Fomin, the Deputy Minister of Defense. Mikhail Galuzin, the deputy foreign minister, and Igor Kostjukow, director of the Russian home service, are also part of the team. These leaders had already participated in the last direct talks after Russia's invasion in 2022.

observers have doubts about the willingness to negotiate Russia. Selenskyj criticized that Russia often "hid" when it gets serious and expressed concerns that the talks would be little success without Putin's participation. In addition, Putin countered claims for a ceasefire with the proposal to resume the direct conversations between Moscow and Kiev, which continues to complicate the dynamics of negotiation.

The international context

luiz inácio lula da Silva also tried in vain to move Putin to participate in the talks. The Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskow confirmed the presence of a Russian delegation in Istanbul, but did not leave any details about the negotiators. Ukraine's preparations are made in close coordination with international partners in order to maximize the number of negotiation scope.

The talks in Turkey have a long series of failed diplomatic efforts to deal with the Ukraine conflict, which has lasted since 2022. Earlier negotiations at the beginning of the Russian offensive also remained with no result. In view of these sobering developments, the question remains how the peace negotiations can continue.

Overall, the lack of significant influence leads to stagnation in the efforts to end the conflict. The pressure on the international actors to find a solution is growing, while the people in Ukraine continue to suffer from the consequences of the war.

For further information on the current developments in the negotiations, you can do the articles on Zeit and Read.