Hope for peace in Russia-Ukraine after 39 months: Putin proposes face-to-face talks with Zelensky in Turkey

New hope for peace has emerged in the 39-month-long Russia-Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to start face-to-face peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul, Turkey on 11 May 2025. Putin made the announcement in a televised address in which he expressed his willingness to start talks from 15 May without any conditions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the initiative and offered to mediate. This article analyzes the inside story of this proposal, its reasons, and possible implications.

Putin's proposal: First step towards peace

On May 11, 2025, Putin said, "Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine without any conditions. We propose to start negotiations on May 15 in Istanbul." He spoke to Erdogan by phone, calling Turkey an "impartial mediator." Erdogan wrote on X, "Turkey is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. We are committed to a lasting solution."

Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed cautious optimism over the proposal. He wrote on X, "A gesture of peace from Russia is welcome, but we need concrete steps. There will be no compromise on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." This is the first time Putin has spoken of direct talks with Zelensky, which could be the first meeting between the two leaders since the war began on February 24, 2022.

Background: 39 months of war and tension

The Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, when Russia annexed regions such as Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia. Putin demanded that Ukraine recognize these regions as part of Russia, give up NATO membership, and lift sanctions on Russia. Zelensky, on the other hand, demanded a complete withdrawal of Russian troops, prosecution of Russian leaders for war crimes, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Several peace talks failed over the past 39 months. Initial talks in Belarus and Turkey in 2022 saw Ukraine give up NATO membership and agree on military borders, but the talks broke down over disagreements over the Bucha massacre and security guarantees. Talks began in Saudi Arabia in 2025 under US President Donald Trump, but Zelensky objected to Ukraine not being included.

Turkey's role: Impartial mediator

Turkey has mediated between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning. After hosting talks in Istanbul and Antalya in 2022, Turkey had offered a peace summit in 2024 as well. Erdogan leveraged his balanced relations with both countries, continuing economic partnership with Russia and drone supplies to Ukraine.

Erdogan described Putin's proposal as "important for regional peace" and said, "Turkey is a trusted mediator for both sides." Turkey's role is also important because Russia has opposed the deployment of NATO countries' troops in Ukraine, and Turkey maintains good relations with Russia despite being a NATO member.

Why did this proposal come?

There are several reasons behind Putin's sudden proposal:

1. International pressure: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and European countries increased pressure on Russia for a ceasefire.
2. Military fatigue: Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered heavy losses in the war. Ukraine occupied Russia's Kursk region in August 2024, which Russia recently took back.
3. Trump's diplomacy: Trump began talks with Putin and Zelensky in February 2025, but Zelensky disagreed with his demand to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
4. Economic crisis: Sanctions imposed on Russia have affected its economy, which led Putin to lean towards peace talks.

Challenges and future

This ceasefire proposal is promising, but there are many challenges:

• Crimea and territorial disputes: Zelensky called Crimea and other occupied territories part of Ukraine, while Putin wants recognition of these.
• NATO membership: Russia opposes Ukraine's NATO membership, while Zelensky considers it necessary for security.
• Lack of trust: Zelensky accused Putin of "lying" and said that talks are difficult without concrete guarantees.

Experts believe that these talks will be successful only if both sides adopt a flexible stance. Turkey's impartial mediation and the support of the global community can speed up this process.

Conclusion

Putin's proposal for direct talks with Zelensky in Turkey in the Russia-Ukraine war is the biggest hope for peace in 39 months. Diplomacy between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Trump made this proposal possible, but issues such as Crimea, NATO, and security guarantees remain obstacles. If these talks succeed, they will be historic not only for Ukraine but for global stability.