Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul are set for May 15

Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, the same venue where negotiations were held in 2022, TASS reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the meeting’s arrangements.

The session is scheduled to begin at 10:00 Moscow time (11:00 Baku time) and will be held behind closed doors.

A special aircraft from the Russian government fleet landed in Istanbul overnight, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24. Interfax aviation sources confirmed that the Russian delegation arrived early at Ataturk Airport.

The Kremlin announced its delegation lineup on the evening of May 14. The team will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who also headed the 2022 negotiations, along with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the General Staff’s Main Directorate Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

According to Ukraine’s Radio NV, the Ukrainian delegation will include President Volodymyr Zelensky, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and presidential adviser Ihor Zhovkva.

President Zelensky has already arrived in Turkey, along with Foreign Minister Sybiha. On the night of May 15, Sybiha met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham in Antalya during an informal NATO foreign ministers' meeting. Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to attend the talks in Istanbul. Reuters previously reported that Keith Kellogg, an envoy of former President Donald Trump, is also heading to Istanbul, though Trump himself has opted not to attend.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has no scheduled meetings with either delegation in Istanbul, according to his official calendar cited by RIA Novosti. Instead, Erdogan is expected to meet President Zelensky at his residence in Ankara. Further events on May 15 will also be held in the Turkish capital.

Prior to Russia’s delegation announcement, Trump had not ruled out traveling to Istanbul, saying he might go “if something is really going to happen.”