Russia and Putin · Second term · № 108
Urged Ukraine to accept Putin's offer of talks after Putin passed over allies' ceasefire demand
“President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.”
- Said
- , Truth Social
- Subject
- Istanbul talks
- Type
- Ukraine
- Topic
- Ukraine & Russia
- Era
- Second term
What happened
On May 10, 2025, European leaders visiting Kyiv demanded that Russia agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12 and said sanctions would be increased if Putin refused; Ukrainska Pravda reported that the leaders had spoken with Trump by phone before the announcement. Putin did not respond to the ceasefire proposal and instead offered direct talks in Istanbul. Trump posted the statement quoted above the next day. European governments maintained that a truce had to be in place before talks, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called ultimatums to Russia "unacceptable." The talks on May 16 lasted about 90 minutes and produced an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side but no ceasefire. The Russian delegation was led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky.