Istanbul – a platform for peace? Türkiye and US discuss Russia-Ukraine talks

According to media reports, during the conversation, the heads of the foreign ministries of Türkiye and the US discussed bilateral issues, as well as regional security concerns, including Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza.

Fidan emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions against Syria for its stability and prosperity.

The importance of the release of US citizen Edan Alexander by Hamas was highlighted.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye and the US Secretary of State exchanged views on the planned negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. They also discussed the details of Rubio's visit to Türkiye as part of an unofficial NATO foreign ministers' meeting scheduled to take place in Antalya on May 14-15.

Possible negotiations

In the early hours of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a press conference, rejected the joint initiative by Ukraine, the US, and the Coalition of the Willing to implement a ceasefire starting May 12. Instead, he called for a return to negotiations in Istanbul, picking up from where talks were halted in 2022.

World leaders reacted critically to this statement. French President Emmanuel Macron believes Putin is trying to buy time, while Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said the Russian leader simply wants to “keep shooting.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate but emphasized that a prerequisite is Russia’s adherence to the ceasefire starting May 12.

Today, Zelenskyy stated that he wants direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also suggested he might take part in a dialogue between the two leaders.

Zelenskyy also held a conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, regarding possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.