Podoliak: Zelenskyy is ready to meet only with Putin in Istanbul
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- Darina Melnychuk
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11:08, 13 May, 2025
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of UkrainePresident of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not meet with any other representative of Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Turkey on 15 May.
Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak said this on The Breakfast Show.
According to him, a possible bilateral meeting in Istanbul at a lower level does not make sense.
«No, of course not. This is not the format», Podoliak said when asked whether Zelenskyy would meet with other representatives of the Russian Federation if Putin decided not to come to the talks.
He added that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev are not authorised to make «decisions that are Putin's own».
As a reminder, on 11 May, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his desire to resume direct talks with Ukraine, which were suspended at the end of 2022. He also said that he planned to address Turkish President Recep Erdogan with a proposal to organise the talks.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin' s proposal for direct talks, calling it a «good sign». However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that a ceasefire was needed first to really start a dialogue with Russia.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to hold talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on 15 May.
US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should accept the Kremlin's offer to hold direct talks in Istanbul on 15 May: «Have that meeting, now».
Subsequently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he was looking forward to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 May in Turkey.
US President Donald Trump also said he might travel to Istanbul on 15 May.