Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has made it clear that Ukraine is pushing for an immediate ceasefire with Russia to open the door for broader peace talks. Speaking at a press conference alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv has already shared its vision for future steps with Moscow. He stated, “We want the war to end this year,” highlighting Ukraine’s urgency for continued dialogue.
The upcoming talks on Monday are expected to take place without the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Fidan expressed Turkey’s ambition to eventually host a high-level summit that would include leaders from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. He believes it is time to bring President Trump, President Putin, and President Zelensky together for discussions.
Russian officials have been less forthcoming about their plans. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia’s proposals for a ceasefire would remain confidential. He indicated that a high-level summit would only be considered if there is significant progress in preliminary talks between the two nations.
During the press conference, Fidan welcomed comments from Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, who acknowledged Russian concerns regarding NATO expansion as valid. Kellogg also pointed out that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is currently not on the agenda.
In a recent phone call on May 19, Trump and Putin discussed a US-proposed ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities. Trump described the conversation as productive, expressing hope that both Russia and Ukraine would quickly begin negotiations for peace. Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, but Putin’s response has been limited to a willingness to work on a "memorandum" for future peace, which Kyiv and its European allies view as a tactic to buy time for Russian advances.
Tensions remain high as Trump recently criticized Putin, calling him "absolutely crazy" and threatening sanctions after a wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised to assist Ukraine in producing long-range missiles for defense against future attacks, a move that the Kremlin warns could complicate efforts to end the conflict.
As these discussions unfold, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the ongoing war.