Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire with Russia, challenges Putin to meet him in Turkiye 'personally'

“Positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war,” says Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (May 11, 2025) challenged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkiye on Thursday (May 15, 2025), the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the U.S.-led peace effort.

Mr. Zelenskyy said that he still hopes for a ceasefire with Russia starting Monday (May 12, 2025), and that he will “be waiting for Putin” in Turkiye “personally” after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer — to hold direct talks in Turkiye on Thursday (May 15, 2025).

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday (May 12, 2025) before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead.

It was not clear if Mr. Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkiye on the Monday (May 12, 2025) ceasefire holding, and there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on whether Mr. Putin would go. In 2022, the war's early months, Mr. Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a personal meeting with the Russian President but was rebuffed, and eventually enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Mr. Putin had become impossible.

“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in [Turkiye] on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote on X on Sunday (May 11, 2025).

Mr. Trump said in a social media post earlier on Sunday (May 11, 2025) that Ukraine should agree to Mr. Putin's peace talks proposal “IMMEDIATELY.”

“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” Mr. Trump wrote, adding: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!” Ukraine, allies insist on a ceasefire, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Mr. Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday (May 10, 2025) and issued a coordinated call for a 30-day truce starting Monday (May 12, 2025). The plan has received backing from both the European Union and Mr. Trump.

The leaders pledged tougher sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin did not accept the proposal.

War and peace: On the U.S., Russia and Ukraine

Mr. Putin in remarks to the media overnight effectively rejected the offer and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday (May 15, 2025) instead “without preconditions.” He did not specify whether the talks on Thursday (May 15, 2025) would involve Mr. Zelenskyy and himself personally.

He said a ceasefire might be agreed on during the negotiations — but stressed that the Kremlin needs a truce that would lead to a “lasting peace” instead of one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilise more men into its armed forces.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists on ceasefire

Mr. Zelenskyy said on X on Sunday (May 11, 2025) morning that it was a “positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war,” but insisted on a ceasefire first.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy have only met once — in 2019. After repeated unsuccessful calls for a personal meeting with the Russian leader early on in the war, and following the Kremlin's decision in September 2022 to illegally annex four regions of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Mr. Putin had become impossible.

Mr. Macron said Sunday (May 11, 2025) that Mr. Putin's offer of direct negotiations with Ukraine is “a first step, but not enough,” signalling continued Western skepticism toward Moscow's intentions.

“An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations,” Mr. Macron told reporters at the Polish-Ukrainian border, according to French media, adding that Mr. Putin is "looking for a way out, but he still wants to buy time.” Moscow presses on with peace talks offer. Turkiye says it's ready to host Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments aired by Russian state TV on Sunday (May 11, 2025), called Mr. Putin's proposal “very serious,” aimed at eliminating “the root causes of the conflict,” and said it “confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution.” Without directly mentioning Moscow's proposal, Mr. Trump said in a social media post several hours after Mr. Putin's overnight remarks that it was “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!” “Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end,” Mr. Trump wrote. “I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!” he added.

In another post on Sunday (May 11, 2025), the U.S. President said Ukraine should accept Mr. Putin's offer “to meet on Thursday (May 15), in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.” He added, however, that he was “starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin.” Mr. Putin spoke on Sunday (May 11, 2025) to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin said.

According to the Kremlin's readout of the phone call, Mr. Erdogan “fully supported the Russian proposal" and was ready to provide a platform for the talks and assistance in organising them.

In a separate phone call to Mr. Macron on Sunday (May 11, 2025), Mr. Erdogan said that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the war, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office.

Questions over next steps persist as attacks continue Mr. Zelenskyy in his nightly video address on Sunday (May 11, 2025) said he still expected a ceasefire to take hold on Monday (May 12, 2025), and that he was still waiting for a “clear answer” from Russia about it.

Mr. Zelenskyy said he was also waiting to see reaction from Western allies who on Saturday (May 10, 2025) promised robust sanctions against Russia if Mr. Putin did not abide by the Monday (May 12, 2025) truce.

“We have repeatedly heard from partners that they are ready to strengthen sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses a ceasefire. We will see,” he said.

He reiterated he would be present in Turkiye on Thursday (May 15, 2025). Kremlin spokesman Mr. Peskov did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking for a comment.

Meanwhile, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday (May 11, 2025), after its self-declared three-day pause expired.

Russia launched 108 attack drones and simulator drones from six different directions, Ukraine's air force said. It said 60 drones were shot down and another 41 simulator drones failed to reach targets due to Ukrainian countermeasures.

The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday (May 11, 2025) accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow's three-day ceasefire more than 14,000 times. Ukraine, which did not agree to the May 8-10 ceasefire, has also accused Russia of violating its own truce, with the Ukrainian foreign minister calling it a farce.

A Russian official on Sunday (May 11, 2025) evening also accused Ukrainian forces of a missile strike on a town in Russia's Kursk region that borders Ukraine. Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram that the strike “seriously damaged” a hotel in Rylsk, a town east of the Ukrainian border, and wounded three people.

Published - May 12, 2025 12:36 pm IST