Zelensky insists on Putin-only talks as Istanbul meeting looms
His position, confirmed by presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, shuts down the possibility of lower-level negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has drawn a clear line ahead of scheduled talks in Türkiye, declaring he will only meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and no other officials from Moscow.
His position, confirmed by presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, shuts down the possibility of lower-level negotiations, as Ukraine considers them ineffective in securing meaningful progress.
The sharp stance comes amid growing attention around a potential peace dialogue set to take place in Istanbul on May 15.
Podolyak told Interfax-Ukraine that any meeting with Russian ministers would not be productive, saying they do not have the power to make decisions that could end the war.
"A lower-level bilateral meeting in Istanbul would be pointless," he said, signaling Ukraine’s firm stand on who it considers a worthy negotiation partner.
Putin, speaking from the Kremlin in the early hours of May 11, publicly invited Ukraine back to the negotiating table, calling for direct talks to resume in Istanbul without preconditions.
He referred to several ceasefires that Russia had previously declared, including a recent three-day V-Day truce, all of which, he said, were violated by the Ukrainian side.
"We had declared ceasefires more than once but all of them, including the latest three-day V-Day truce, were violated by the Kiev regime," said Putin.
Zelensky responded by confirming he would travel to Istanbul on Thursday and expressed readiness to meet Putin.
However, he did not accept Putin’s terms wholesale, choosing instead to stick to his own conditions for talks, which previously included a 30-day ceasefire.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped about who will represent Russia at the talks.
Responding to questions from reporters, Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the names of the Russian negotiators will only be announced when the president deems the time right.
"We will make an announcement as soon as the president thinks fit," Peskov told journalists.
The possibility of direct dialogue between the two leaders has stirred international interest, especially after US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to agree to Putin’s proposal immediately.
Despite the pressure, Zelensky has maintained a cautious approach, refusing to commit to talks with Russian officials he believes cannot deliver binding agreements.
