Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara on May 15, 2025, amidst rising tensions as Russian President Vladimir Putin chose to skip scheduled peace talks in Istanbul. Erdogan has been actively pushing for an immediate ceasefire and the commencement of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, upon arriving in Ankara, criticized Russia for sending a 'decorative' delegation to the talks, suggesting a lack of seriousness from Moscow. Despite Putin's absence, Zelenskyy confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation, including top-level representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, military, and intelligence agencies, would attend the Istanbul talks.
Erdogan has emphasized Türkiye's commitment to border security and regional unity. The Turkish President told Russian and French leaders that a “historic turning point” has been reached in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and that Ankara was ready to host talks between the two warring parties.