Zelensky Casts Doubt on Russia’s Intent Ahead of Istanbul Peace Talks

Ukraine to push for ceasefire in Istanbul negotiations, but President Zelensky questions Russia’s commitment to ending war

Kyiv, May 16:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised doubts about Russia’s sincerity in resolving the ongoing war, just hours before fresh peace talks begin in Istanbul. The Ukrainian leader announced that a high-level delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will attend the talks, with ceasefire as the top priority.

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Zelenskyy made the remarks via a post on X, formerly Twitter, after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, praising Turkiye for its steadfast support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and its recognition of Crimea as Ukrainian territory.

“I sincerely thank President Erdoğan and the people of Turkiye for standing by Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He reaffirmed his position on Crimea and extended full support to our cause,” Zelenskyy wrote.

Delegation Signals Kyiv’s Serious Intent

Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to peace by sending a delegation composed of senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President, and intelligence agencies. However, he criticized the low-level representation from Russia, calling it a sign of Moscow’s lack of seriousness.

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“Turkiye welcomed us with a delegation of the highest level. Sadly, the composition of Russia’s delegation indicates they are not taking the talks seriously,” he stated.

Despite this, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would proceed with the talks out of respect for President Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump, who are both involved in the diplomatic efforts.

“Russia Does Not Want to End the War”: Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy made clear that achieving a ceasefire remains Ukraine’s top agenda, but reiterated doubts about Moscow’s intentions.

“I remain convinced that Russia is not serious about these meetings and does not genuinely want to end the war. But we’ll see if they’re willing to show at least some commitment during discussions,” he said.

The Ukrainian delegation will not include the Head of the Security Service or the Chief of the General Staff, but will be represented by senior military and intelligence professionals alongside Defence Minister Umerov.

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Talks in Istanbul

The dialogue is being hosted in Istanbul, with both Turkish and international observers viewing the talks as a crucial opportunity to de-escalate the conflict that has now extended beyond two years.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are set to meet on Thursday, although further details of the Russian delegation remain undisclosed.

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Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine peace talks, Istanbul negotiations, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia ceasefire, Turkey Ukraine mediation, Erdogan Trump Ukraine, Operation Sindoor, Ukraine defence, global diplomacy