Putin holds pre-talks meeting with security officials, Lavrov, and delegation members

RIA Novosti reported the information.

The meeting included not only members of the negotiating team but also several top officials: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, National Guard Director Viktor Zolotov, Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, and commanders of troop groupings in the so-called “special military operation” zone.

More about Russian delegation composition

On the evening of May 14, Russia announced the composition of its delegation for negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, scheduled for May 15. This was reported by Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS.

The Kremlin stated that the Russian delegation to the Istanbul talks includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov.

The delegation will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

The Russian leader also approved the list of experts who will be present at the talks. They include: First Deputy Head of the Information Directorate of the Russian General Staff Alexander Zorin; Deputy Head of Putin's Directorate for State Policy in the Humanitarian Sphere Elena Podobreyevskaya; Director of the Second CIS Countries Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Polishchuk; and Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Russian Defense Ministry Vladimir Shevtsov.

Moscow views these negotiations as “a continuation of the talks that began three years ago in Istanbul as well, and a step toward addressing the root causes of the conflict,” the statement noted.

Arrival of the Russian delegation in Istanbul

According to TASS, as of the morning of May 15, the Russian delegation has already arrived in Istanbul. 

Russia spreads fake news about the start of negotiations, - Center for Countering Disinformation

On the morning of May 15, Russian platforms began spreading claims that “negotiations in Turkey” had started at 10 a.m. Moscow time. However, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation, these reports are false and no such talks were scheduled at that time.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center, said that Russia is likely trying to manipulate the topic of negotiations. He pointed out that Russian propagandists, while pushing the false narrative about the talks, are also spreading the message that “everyone wants negotiations except Ukraine.”

“In fact, only Russia, which avoids a 30-day ceasefire and normal dialogue in every possible way, does not need the movement towards peace, and is spreading such lies,” emphasized Andriy Kovalenko.

Background

In a nighttime address on May 11, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed he was ready for direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey next week, but he dismissed the idea of a 30-day truce. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would keep working with both sides and predicted that the coming week would be “great.”

On May 12, the German government announced that if Russia did not agree to ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of the day, European partners would begin preparations for new sanctions. In contrast, the Kremlin stated that “the language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia.”

Advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not meet with any Russian representative other than Vladimir Putin in Turkey on May 15.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the talks in Istanbul with Kyiv should recognize the "realities on the ground," including Russia’s incorporation of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed he will visit Turkey on May 15 to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He also said he is ready to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.