U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed the expectation that Russia will soon present its conditions for a ceasefire with Ukraine. According to him, this will be an important step in understanding the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rubio made this statement during hearings in the U.S. Senate, emphasizing that Putin approaches the peace process with a cold calculation of costs and benefits for Russia.
He noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not yielded the expected results, and currently the country controls less territory than at the beginning of the conflict. Despite a recent meeting in Istanbul and an agreement on a prisoner exchange, real progress in peace negotiations is still lacking. Rubio believes that Russia is preparing conditions for a ceasefire, which could open the way for broader talks.
The Secretary of State also pointed out that the threat of new U.S. sanctions could influence the course of negotiations with Russia. He stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue to encourage Moscow to return to the negotiating table.
On May 19, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed issues of a ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. In his statement after the call, Putin noted that a ceasefire is possible only if appropriate agreements are reached, but did not specify any details.
Additionally, Putin mentioned a possible memorandum between Russia and Ukraine that could include ceasefire issues and principles for resolving the conflict. He believes that the negotiations in Istanbul indicate positive movement toward peace.
On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held two conversations with Trump: one before the call with Putin, and another afterward. The second conversation included leaders of the European Commission, France, Italy, Germany, and Finland. Zelensky emphasized that any memorandums from the Russian side will not be secret and could serve as a basis for a further “map” leading to the end of the war.
On May 16, a meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul with the participation of Turkish representatives. The Ukrainian side was represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and deputies of the Foreign Ministry, Security Service, and Main Intelligence Directorate. The Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky along with deputies of the Russian Foreign and Defense Ministries.
After the negotiations, Umerov reported that discussions covered the exchange of prisoners in a 1000-for-1000 format, as well as the possibility of a ceasefire. Ukraine is currently working on the details of the exchange, which may take place soon.
Earlier, on May 15, President Zelensky met in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Zelensky described the composition of the Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks as “theatrical,” but out of respect for Trump and Erdoğan, sent the Ukrainian delegation to negotiations involving Turkish and American representatives.
Zelensky also expressed readiness for a personal meeting with Putin in Istanbul; however, the Kremlin announced that Putin would not participate in these talks.
