Diplomatic drama in Turkey: Putin snubs talks as U.S., Europe tighten screws

The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel discussed the issue.

Tensions ran high in Turkey this week as international efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine hit a wall, with Russian leader Vladimir Putin openly disregarding both American and European diplomatic overtures. Despite earlier U.S. promises to coordinate sanctions with Europe if Moscow refused a 30-day ceasefire, Putin not only rejected the proposal but also sent a low-level delegation to the talks — a move widely seen as a deliberate insult to Western negotiators.

President Trump, meanwhile, has shown little appetite for confronting Putin directly, instead urging Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to attend the talks and only gently suggesting that Putin do the same. Behind the scenes, U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been working to keep European allies from escalating public pressure over sanctions, hoping to keep negotiations on track.

Putin’s snub extended beyond the U.S. and Europe. Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Turkish President Erdoğan both found themselves sidelined, with Putin refusing to meet them despite their efforts to play a role in the peace process. Observers say Putin’s increasingly brazen behavior reflects his belief that any attempt to negotiate with him is a sign of weakness.

Moscow’s intransigence has backfired. European leaders have unanimously blamed Russia for the collapse of the talks, and the European Union is now set to approve a new round of sanctions, with discussions on an even tougher package already underway. U.S. envoys Rubio and Kellogg have taken charge of the diplomatic process in Turkey, holding a series of meetings with Ukrainian, Turkish, and European officials to coordinate the Western response.

Notably, the U.S. State Department has refused to meet with the Russian delegation, citing its lack of appropriate status — a move that shields Kyiv from potential criticism in Washington. As the Russian team remains isolated in their hotel for a second day, Western diplomats have pressed ahead without them, signaling that the real work is happening with or without Moscow’s participation.

The diplomatic process in Turkey is now firmly under Western and Ukrainian control, while Russia’s absence has become little more than a formality for the White House. The stage is set for a new chapter in the standoff, with the West more united than ever in its resolve to hold Moscow accountable.

Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul

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 a 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. Later, Zelenskyy himself confirmed his personal visit to Turkey for a meeting with Putin.

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.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if his meeting with the Russian leader takes place on May 15 in Turkey, the main topics of discussion will be a complete ceasefire and a full exchange of prisoners of war.

On the evening of May 14, the Russian Federation announced the composition of its delegation for talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.

Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not be present during the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Turkey on May 15.