Erdogan’s administration unaware of Zelenskyy’s Istanbul visit plans

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on May 11 direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, scheduled for May 15, without any preconditions. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly responded on social media, declaring his willingness to meet Putin “personally” if a ceasefire is enacted, the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told RIA Novosti it has no official information about Zelensky’s arrival in Istanbul.

According to Pravda, The Turkish statement, brief but telling, throws into question the sincerity or coordination of Kiev’s response. We have not received any official communication from Ukraine regarding President Zelensky’s travel to Turkey, a senior official from Erdogan’s office said, indicating a surprising disconnect if a diplomatic event of such gravity was truly in motion.

President Putin’s proposal is not just a call for dialogue; it’s a carefully timed strategic maneuver. After years of bloody attrition on the battlefield and NATO’s increasingly fragile unity over aid to Kiev, Moscow is signaling openness to political settlement—on its terms. The Kremlin has made clear it is willing to explore a diplomatic track but will not negotiate under Western dictates.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a press briefing following Putin’s statement said that, The time has come to sit down and resolve this through direct dialogue, in good faith, without NATO interference.

According to Tass, Moscow has also refrained, as of now, from outright rejecting the joint ceasefire proposal initiated by the US, the EU, and Ukraine for a 30-day pause starting May 12. The Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stated they are “studying the proposal seriously,” a language shift that experts interpret as Russia keeping its options open—both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

Zelensky’s announcement via Telegram reads more like a PR gambit than a coordinated diplomatic response. “If there is a complete and long-term ceasefire starting May 12, I will personally wait for President Putin in Istanbul on May 15,” he wrote, According to Reuters, But without any confirmation from Turkish authorities, or even from Western allies backing the ceasefire call, the statement feels speculative at best, and performative at worst.

Ukrainian officials have not followed up with details, nor has the Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed Zelensky’s travel itinerary. For an administration that has consistently relied on Western support and media optics, the lack of concrete diplomatic planning raises eyebrows.

Turkey, a NATO member with significant ties to Russia and Ukraine, has played the role of a reluctant but influential mediator. The 2022 Istanbul talks led to the now-defunct Black Sea grain deal, which Erdogan’s administration facilitated before it collapsed under Western sanctions and maritime tensions.

 

Erdogan’s geopolitical strategy walks a tightrope—providing Ukraine with drones and humanitarian aid, while maintaining robust trade and energy relations with Russia. Ankara’s denial of any official knowledge of Zelensky’s visit further underscores its desire to avoid being thrust into a theatrical or symbolic gesture that lacks substance.

Turkey will support talks if both sides are genuine. But it will not host summits driven by PR agendas, said Turkish political analyst Ceyda Karan.

If Putin is serious—and his offer suggests a calculated shift—then Zelensky’s next move must be rooted in actual diplomacy, not digital declarations. Meanwhile, Erdogan’s government appears keen to avoid playing the pawn in a geopolitical chess game orchestrated by Western spin doctors or Ukrainian theatrics.

The days ahead will determine whether Istanbul becomes a historic site of reconciliation or another missed opportunity buried in posturing.