Russia must attend Istanbul talks or face consequences — German FM Johann Wadephul

Russia must show up to the negotiating table in Istanbul on May 15 if it is genuinely interested in peace, said Ukrainian official Wadephul.

“If Russia is serious about peace, it should not leave an empty chair,” Wadephul added. “We will not allow Russia to simply continue this war.”

Wadephul’s remarks came amid growing pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire proposal. Earlier, The Guardian, citing German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius, reported that Russia must agree to the temporary ceasefire by the end of Monday, May 12, or face possible new sanctions.

Potential Talks with Russia in Istanbul

On May 10, leaders of the “coalition of the willing” — France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland — met in Kyiv. Following discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, they proposed a 30-day ceasefire starting May 12.

Late on May 11, Vladimir Putin offered Ukraine direct talks “without preconditions” in Istanbul on May 15. However, he did not mention the ceasefire proposal from the coalition.

Trump expressed doubts about Ukraine agreeing to talks, suggesting that Kyiv may be reluctant to negotiate with Putin, who is “too busy celebrating victory in World War II.”

U.S. President’s Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, emphasized that any talks should be preceded by an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accepted Putin’s offer for talks in Istanbul on May 15 and pledged that Ankara is prepared to “do everything possible, including negotiations,” to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace. Erdoğan also advocated for a ceasefire to create “the necessary atmosphere for the start of peace talks.”

In an evening address on May 11, Zelenskyy confirmed that he expects Putin to meet him in Turkey on May 15.

According to Axios, Zelenskyy will travel to Turkey for talks with Putin even if Russia does not agree to the ceasefire by May 12.

Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) argued that by pressuring Ukraine into talks based on the so-called “Istanbul Protocols,” Putin is attempting to divert attention from Russia’s lack of military progress and limited battlefield capabilities over the past two years.

Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, stated that Ukraine could lift the ban on negotiations with Putin if the Russian leader agrees to meet Zelenskyy in Istanbul.