Zelenskyy and Erdoğan discuss Ukraine’s conditions for second round of talks with Russia in Istanbul

Zelenskyy also shared details of the call.

“We talked about the first meeting in Istanbul. The prisoner exchange was an important achievement, but unfortunately, the only one. There must be a ceasefire to move toward peace. The killing must stop,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that the two also discussed the possibility of a second meeting in Istanbul and under what conditions Ukraine would agree to participate.

“We both understand this meeting cannot and should not be empty. We also discussed organizing a four-party summit between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Erdoğan, for his part, said Ankara would continue its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Turkish president highlighted the importance of addressing a possible ceasefire during the planned second round of talks in Istanbul. According to him, it could be a crucial step toward peace.

Erdoğan also stressed the need for a leaders’ summit to maintain momentum in the peace process, saying such a meeting should happen without delay.

Before his call with Erdoğan, Zelenskyy said neither Ukraine nor Türkiye had received any information about Russia’s proposed “memorandum.” He said Moscow was deliberately keeping the content of the document secret, which he called puzzling.

“They always do something to prove they’re the most inadequate actor in the world. And that just convinces everyone that new pressure is needed — pressure on Russia,” the president said.

On May 30, Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, confirmed that Ukraine is ready to take part in the next round of negotiations with the Russian delegation. However, he stressed the need to first receive a draft of the so-called ceasefire memorandum.

On May 28, Russia announced that it had proposed holding the next round of talks in Istanbul on June 2. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Moscow was prepared to present a ceasefire “memorandum” and “provide necessary clarifications” at the meeting.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister and lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said on May 28 that he had passed Russia a Ukrainian document outlining Kyiv’s position on a ceasefire, and accused the Russian side of stalling the delivery of its own “memorandum.”

On May 29, Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out the war and attempting to deceive both Ukraine and the United States. He noted that Moscow had still not provided the so-called memorandum it had promised following the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry believes the aggressor state is afraid to hand over its ceasefire proposal because it likely contains unrealistic ultimatums.

Meanwhile, on May 30, Türkiye put forward an initiative to organize a summit between the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine — with Erdoğan’s participation — to advance a peaceful resolution to Russia’s war on Ukraine.