Zelensky and Putin may meet in Turkey for potential peace talks. Here's what we know about the high-stakes negotiation and the political drama surrounding it.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that there would be no progress toward peace in Ukraine until he meets with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as much-hyped Moscow-Kyiv talks in Istanbul turned into a huge nothingburger.
Speculation Over Zelensky-Putin Meeting in Turkey
There was intense speculation this week that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Turkey—if the Russian leader chooses to show up, as he himself had previously hinted.
The possibility of a face-to-face encounter between the two leaders sparked global excitement, but the absence of Putin’s name from the official Kremlin delegation list has cast serious doubt over the meeting.
According to CNN, the Kremlin has been asked whether Putin will skip the highly anticipated negotiations, especially after Russian officials spent days crafting justifications and excuses for his potential absence.
High Stakes but Low Expectations
Even if talks were to take place, they are not expected to yield any immediate breakthroughs and certainly not the kind of grand “deal” that former U.S. President Donald Trump has promised if he returns to the White House in January.
Still, any direct meeting between Kyiv and Moscow at any level would mark a milestone in the conflict—given that no known direct talks have occurred since Russia’s full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
How Did We Get Here?
The negotiation proposal initially came from Putin as a counter to an ultimatum issued by Ukraine’s European allies last Saturday. Leaders from Germany, France, Poland, and the UK demanded that Moscow agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face another round of sweeping sanctions.
Instead of complying, Putin suggested “direct negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine. This was widely seen as a delay tactic, something the Russian leader has employed successfully in the past—but it seems to have backfired this time.
Zelensky Challenges Putin Publicly
At first, European nations and Ukraine insisted that no talks would occur without an agreed ceasefire. But the situation changed rapidly when Donald Trump publicly urged Zelensky on social media to attend the talks.
Notably, Putin has not proposed a one-on-one meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. Instead, he has expressed a desire to resume the kind of high-level diplomatic talks that took place in Spring 2022, involving senior diplomats—but not the leaders themselves.
Zelensky upped the ante by announcing he would travel to Turkey and directly challenged Putin to do the same. He made it clear that he would not meet with any other Russian official, stating, “Everything in Russia depends on Putin.”
Adding pressure, Trump—currently traveling in the Middle East—suggested he might attend the talks himself “if it helps.” Zelensky welcomed the idea, saying Ukraine would be “grateful” for Trump’s presence.
On Wednesday, Trump even told CNBC that Putin “would want me to be there.”
However, two White House officials told CNN that Trump has no plans to travel to Turkey this week, effectively shutting down days of speculation.
The Risk for Putin if He Skips
If Putin decides not to attend—which looks increasingly likely—he will undermine his own narrative that Zelensky and his government are illegitimate. But by staying home, he could allow Zelensky to further demonstrate that Russia is not serious about peace.
That may be the message aimed at Trump. Kyiv and its European allies have long said they don’t believe Putin is genuinely interested in peace negotiations.
Trump, meanwhile, has often said otherwise—though in recent weeks, he too has started expressing doubts, especially after seeing Zelensky speak beside an empty chair symbolizing Putin during Pope Francis’s funeral last month.
This is also a key reason why Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Putin—who, according to Ukrainian and Western intelligence, had previously ordered Zelensky’s assassination.
What Could Be on the Table?
The gap between the two sides remains vast, making it unclear what the negotiations—if they occur—would even cover.
Zelensky stated on Tuesday that anything short of an unconditional ceasefire would be unacceptable and deemed a failure.
Putin, meanwhile, said that Russia would not rule out “some new ceasefire arrangements” during the talks, but emphasized that the main goal must be addressing the “root causes” of the conflict.
Those root causes, as cited by Putin, include longstanding Russian grievances: Ukraine’s sovereignty, and NATO’s eastward expansion since the Cold War.
These demands are simply non-negotiable for Ukraine and its allies.
What Happened Last Time?
The last known direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow were held in Spring 2022 in Turkey and Belarus, after it became clear that Putin’s plan to take over all of Ukraine had failed.
Since then, Russia has resorted to dragging out negotiations as a strategic delay.
According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia’s past proposals demanded that Ukraine surrender its sovereignty and made the country unable to defend itself.
Once Ukrainian forces started liberating parts of northern Ukraine, and started finding horrific mass atrocities—like the massacre in Bucha—the negotiations fell apart.
If Not Putin, Then Who?
Sometime after Zelensky challenged Putin to come to Turkey, the Kremlin began preparing for his absence.
On Monday, Konstantin Kosachev, deputy head of Russia’s Federation Council, told Russian state television that a meeting like this is “pure theatrics.”
He added, “High-level meetings, especially in such difficult conditions, are not organized this way.”
He suggested the talks would occur at a “technical expert level.”
Later, the Kremlin confirmed that senior aide Vladimir Medinsky—who led Russia’s delegation in 2022—would head the team this time as well.
What’s at Stake?
The stakes are high. Both Trump and Ukraine’s European allies have said that if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire, they will impose additional sanctions on Moscow.
What Else Do We Know About the Talks?
Not much. The Turkish government said earlier this week that it remains ready to provide “any and all support,” including mediating and hosting peace negotiations, to help achieve peace in Ukraine.
Turkey has played a bridge-building role in the past, notably when it brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed safe passage for Ukrainian grain exports—a rare success in this otherwise brutal conflict.
A Potential Turning Point or Just Another Stalemate?
Ukraine’s President Zelensky may meet Russia’s Putin in Turkey for direct talks amid global anticipation. While the Kremlin hasn’t confirmed Putin’s attendance, the potential meeting, backed by Trump’s interest and European pressure, could mark a turning point—or another stalemate.