Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv will send a delegation led by defence minister Rustem Umerov for direct talks with a Russian team in Istanbul.
During a press conference in Ankara following a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Zelensky hit out at the level of the Russian delegation - saying it proves Moscow is not serious about peace.
"Russia does not feel that it needs to end (the war), which means there is not enough political, economic and other pressure on the Russian Federation," he said, asking for “appropriate sanctions”. He had earlier accused Moscow of sending “stand-in props” for talks with Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky also challenged Vladimir Putin to “demonstrate his leadership” and meet face-to-face - something the Russian president has declined to do this week.
“You want to meet? Let’s meet,” the Ukrainian president said, afterwards adding: “I believe that the US now and Turkey feel Russia’s disrespect. [Russia provided] no time of meeting, no agenda, no high-level delegation.”
Earlier today, Mr Trump said a peace deal isn’t going to happen until he and Vladimir Putin “get together” after the Russian president shunned direct negotiations with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey.
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Key Points
- Russian delegation has no mandate; Moscow doesn't want to end war - Zelensky
- Putin's lead negotiator says Moscow's aim is to secure a long-lasting peace
- Zelensky challenges Putin: 'You want to meet? Let's meet'
- Rubio says Trump and Putin meeting needed for a breakthrough in Ukraine talks
- 'I'm here', Zelensky tells Putin after landing in Turkey
Ukraine names delegation to Istanbul talks with Russia
19:23
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Jabed Ahmed
Ukraine's delegation to the upcoming Istanbul talks with Russia will be led by its defence minister and include the deputy heads of its intelligence services, the deputy chief of the military's general staff and the deputy foreign minister, a presidential decree said.
Mapped: Frontline in Ukraine as Kyiv and Moscow set to begin first direct talks since 2022
19:14
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Jabed Ahmed
Analysis | Putin’s no-show at the peace talks he asked for doesn’t mean it’s all over
18:49
,
Jabed Ahmed
Read the full analysis by Mary Dejevsky:
Watch | Zelensky hits out at Putin after landing in Turkey for Ukraine and Russia peace talks
18:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
The latest
18:09
,
Jabed Ahmed
In case you are just joining us, here is the latest:
- Vladimir Putin spurned a challenge to meet face-to-face with Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, instead sending a second-tier delegation to planned peace talks.
- Ukrainian president says his defence minister would head up Kyiv's team.
- US President Donald Trump said there would be no movement in peace talks without a meeting between himself and Putin.
- Ukraine backs an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire but Putin has said he first wants to start talks at which the details of such a truce could be discussed.
- Russia has the advantage on the battlefield and says Ukraine could use a pause in the war to call up extra troops and acquire more Western weapons.
- The Russian delegation is headed by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister who has overseen the rewriting of history textbooks to reflect Moscow's narrative on the war. It includes a deputy defence minister, a deputy foreign minister and the head of military intelligence.
Rubio says Trump and Putin meeting needed for a breakthrough in Ukraine talks
17:57
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Jabed Ahmed
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the only way a breakthrough will happen would be through direct talks between US president Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Rubio, who spoke to reporters in Antalya, said he would travel to Istanbul for meetings on Friday with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Ukrainian delegation, but said he did not have high expectations for the talks.
"It's my assessment that I don't think we're going to have a breakthrough here until the President (Trump) and President Putin interact directly on this topic," Mr Rubio said, echoing earlier comments from Mr Trump.
Nato ally attacks Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ for Ukraine
17:49
,
Jabed Ahmed
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Putin's lead negotiator says Moscow's aim is to secure a long-lasting peace
17:36
,
Jabed Ahmed
The head of Russia's delegation at peace talks on Ukraine in Turkey has said Moscow's aim is to secure a long-lasting peace with Kyiv by looking for common ground and removing the reasons for the conflict.
Vladimir Medinsky, who helped lead 2022 talks which collapsed, said Russia considered the planned talks in Istanbul to be a continuation of those failed 2022 talks.
"We consider these negotiations as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which, unfortunately, was interrupted by the Ukrainian side three years ago," Medinsky told reporters in Istanbul.
Full report: Trump declares Ukraine peace deal won’t happen until he and Putin ‘get together’ after Turkey talks fiasco
17:25
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Alex Croft
Donald Trump said a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine won’t happen until he personally meets with Vladimir Putin, after the Russian president spurned ceasefire talks he himself instigated and refused to send even senior ministers to the negotiations.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s failure to attend talks in Turkey showed he was not ready for peace, and called on Putin to “demonstrate leadership” if he was serious about ending the conflict, while confirming a senior Ukrainian delegation would be sent to face the second-tier Russian team on Friday.
"If we don't see that demonstration, then it means they are not ready to talk about the end of the war," the Ukrainian president said after meeting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara for peace talks. "It means they lack political will."
Rachel Clun reports:
Moscow ready to make 'compromises', says head of Russian delegation
17:11
,
Alex Croft
The head of Russia’s delegation in Istanbul has stated Moscow is ready to discuss compromises during talks with the Ukrainian side.
"We are ready for possible compromises and their discussion,” Vladimir Medinsky said according to Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Russia has consistently rejected Ukrainian calls for a 30-day ceasefire, saying that Kyiv has not ceded to any of its maximalist demands.
Zelensky: I am sending delegation to Istanbul out of respect for Trump
16:55
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Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will send a “high-level” Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul out of respect for Donald Trump.
“Despite the extremely low level of the Russian delegation, out of respect — for President Trump, for the high-level delegations present in Türkiye, and for President Erdoğan, and out of a sincere desire to take at least the first steps toward de-escalation and ending the war, beginning with a ceasefire — I have decided to send a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul,” he wrote on X.
Not all members of the planned Ukrainian delegation will attend, Mr Zelensky added. The head of the Security Service and the chief of the General Staff have both been left out of the delegation.
He continued: “As for the agenda, the mandate for our delegation is clear: ceasefire is priority number one. I remain convinced that Russia is not serious about these meetings and does not genuinely want to end the war.
“But we’ll see if they are willing to show at least something during the discussions.”
As for the agenda, the mandate for our delegation is clear: ceasefire is priority number one. I remain convinced that Russia is not serious about these meetings and does not genuinely want to end the war. But we’ll see if they are willing to show at least something during the…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2025
Zelensky's full comments on Putin: 'The world is now starting to feel disrespected'
16:40
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Alex Croft
During his press conference in Ankara earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky was not sparing in his attacks of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who declined to join peace talks in Istanbul.
The world is beginning to feel disrespected by Putin, the Ukrainian president said, adding that Kyiv will not “run all over the world looking for the man”.
Here are his full quotes on Putin, translated by Ukrainska Pravda.
I believe the Kremlin ruler must demonstrate leadership, and if he is ready for negotiations, then he should meet without any preconditions. Let's meet.
We're in Ankara now. After this, we're sending a delegation to Istanbul. He's not here, he's not in Istanbul. We can't run all over the world looking for the man...
I believe the US and Turkey are now feeling disrespected by Russia. No scheduled time, no agenda, no high-level delegation – that's personal disrespect. I'm not talking about 'the Russians' disrespecting us – that's already obvious – but this is a mirror image...
It's disrespect towards Erdogan, disrespect towards Trump. Trump is sending a large group of people, including Secretary of State Rubio. The parties to the war are Russia and Ukraine. Secretary of State Rubio is here, Turkey's foreign minister is here, Ukraine's foreign minister is here – where is the appropriate representative from the Russian Federation?
This is not just disrespect towards Ukraine, it's disrespect towards everyone, and first and foremost towards Türkiye, because the meeting is taking place here.
Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara
Germany to confiscate frozen Russian assets if possible, Merz says
16:24
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Alex Croft
Germany and its allies will move to confiscate frozen Russian assets if legally possible, chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.
There are also discussions about more sanctions against Russia in the energy sector, banking sector, and further actions regarding sanctions against individuals, Mr Merz said in an interview published in Die Zeit on Thursday.
A possible seizure of Russian assets was "currently being clarified," Mr Merz said. "If there is a way to mobilise the money on a sound legal basis, we will do it."
Moscow wants long-lasting peace, claims head of Russia's Istanbul delegation
16:07
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Alex Croft
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia's delegation at peace talks on Ukraine in Turkey, has been addressing the media in Istanbul.
He said Moscow's aim was to secure a long-lasting peace with Kyiv by looking for common ground and removing the reasons for the conflict.
Russia has refused Ukrainian offers of a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to allow for negotiations, and Kyiv accuses them of sending a low-level team to the talks.
Mr Medinsky says the team consists of "chief officials of all relevant authorities".
Erdogan says Turkey will host any future Zelensky-Putin talks
15:54
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Alex Croft
President Tayyip Erdogan told Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Ankara that Turkey was ready to host him and Russia's Vladimir Putin for peace talks "when they are ready", his office said.
Mr Erdogan met the Ukrainian president in the Turkish capital after Putin had sent a second-tier team of negotiators to hold peace talks in Istanbul, spurning Kyiv's challenge to go there in person.
In a statement, the presidency said Mr Erdogan stressed the need to keep dialogue channels between the sides open given the "historic opportunity" to start peace talks, and that they should meet on their minimum common ground.
Ukraine's priority is reaching a ceasefire - Zelensky
15:29
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Alex Croft
Kyiv’s priorty is achieving a ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“That’s why I’m here, underlining again and again the high-level of representatives of our group,” he added, likely hoping that US president Donald Trump will take note.
Discussing the US-Ukrainian proposal of a 30-day unconditional ceasefire - which has been rejected by Russia repeatedly - Mr Zelensky said “everybody supports it as a first step”.
“Even the global south, which has been balancing between us and Russia throughout this war, they are supportive of the first step, an unconditional ceasefire,” he added.
Crimea is part of Ukraine, Zelensky reiterates
15:22
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Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that Kyiv is not willing to give up Crimea to Russia.
“Crimea is part of Ukraine,” he said, adding that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed with this.
Mr Zelensky added that Kyiv would never recognise any Russian-occupied areas as part of Russia.
Zelensky challenges Putin: You want to meet? Let's meet
15:16
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin must “demonstrate his leadership”, Mr Zelensky has said, calling again for a face-to-face meeting without any conditions.
“You want to meet? Let’s meet,” the Ukrainian president said.
“He’s not in Istanbul. We can’t travel around the whole world and find the man. I think the whole world has to help the parties to settle the war in this or that way.
“I believe that the US now and Turkey feel Russia’s disrespect, [Russia provided] no time of meeting, no agenda, no high-level delegation,” he added.
Russian delegation has no mandate, showing Moscow doesn't want to end war - Zelensky
15:11
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has again hit out at the low-level delegation sent by Russia for direct talks with Ukraine, saying it proves Moscow does not feel it has to end the war.
In the press conference after meeting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv would send a delegation led by defence minister Rustem Umerov to the Istanbul talks.
“We demonstrate with our presence, and our level, that we want to put a end to war quickly,” Mr Zelensky said.
“We have a mandate, institutionally, from the people of war, from our lawmakers, we have a mandate to agree certain steps to end war.”
In contrast, he said, the level of Russia’s delegation is one which does not hold “respect”, proving Moscow lacks “political will”
"Russia does not feel that it needs to end (the war), which means there is not enough political, economic and other pressure on the Russian Federation," he said. "And so we ask, if there is no ceasefire, if there are no serious decisions ... we ask for appropriate sanctions."
Ukrainian defence minister to lead Kyiv's Istanbul delegation
15:06
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul, led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, to attend talks with a team from Russia, Mr Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president, who has called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with Russia, told a press conference in Ankara he would not go to Istanbul to attend the talks after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to turn up and instead sent what the Ukrainian leader described as a low-level team.
I hope the Russia-Ukraine meeting takes place - Zelensky
15:04
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky said he “hopes” the meeting between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul takes place.
“I hope the meeting will take place,” he said.
“We are waiting for certain signals of concrete hours, [regarding] what time the groups will be meeting,” Mr Zelensky added.
“Our group.. will go to Istanbul tomorrow. We will be constructive,” he added.
Russia is 'not treating peace seriously' - Zelensky
15:01
,
Alex Croft
Turkish, Ukrainian, American and Russian representatives will all be at today’s Kyiv-Moscow negotiations in Istanbul starting today, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Russia is “still not treating it seriously, they don’t want to stop the war”, he added.
Mr Zelensky and Mr Erdogan will meet tomorrow where they will join a meeting of European leaders in Tirana, Albania, he added.
Zelensky press conference begins
14:59
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has sat down for his press conference after meeting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr Erdogan is fully supportive of Kyiv’s territorial integrity over Crimea, the Ukrainian president said, adding that the pair had a good discussion in Ankara.
A closer look at the peace deal Russia is pushing for Ukraine to accept
14:46
,
Alex Croft
With Russian and Ukrainian negotiators preparing to meet in Istanbul for their first direct talks since March 2022, Moscow is looking to push for Istanbul protocols it first pitched in 2022.
The talks had resulted in a failure back in March 2022 as Russia sought complete capitulation of Ukraine.
“Russian officials continue to reiterate Russian president Vladimir Putin's recent call to base future negotiations with Ukraine on the early 2022 Istanbul protocols that included Russian demands for Ukraine's complete capitulation,” the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment.
The terms in Istanbul protocols would have “amounted to Ukraine's surrender and left Ukraine helpless to defend against potential future Russian aggression”, the ISW said, adding that — the Kremlin continues to pursue these aims.
What are these harsh terms and conditions Russia is imposing on Ukraine to accept as part of peace deal?
- Russia demands that Ukraine limit its military to 85,000 soldiers, 342 tanks, and 519 artillery systems as part of the Istanbul protocols.
- Russia also wants Ukrainian missiles be limited to a range of 40km (25 miles), a range that would allow Russian forces to deploy critical systems and materiel close to Ukraine without fear of strikes, says ISW
- The draft protocols seek a ban on Ukraine from hosting foreign military personnel, trainers, or weapon systems in Ukraine.
- Russia has demanded that it will alongside the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), the People's Republic of China (PRC), France, and Belarus serve as security guarantors of the agreement.
- Russia demands that the guarantor states “terminate international treaties and agreements incompatible with the permanent neutrality [of Ukraine]," including military aid agreements.
Pope Leo XIV: My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine
14:33
,
Alex Croft
Pope Leo XIV has said his “heart goes out” to the Ukrainian people and called for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The pontiff was “personally” handed a document with the names of Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity, during the Jubilee of Eastern Churches held from May 12 - 14.
"My heart goes out to the suffering and beloved people of Ukraine. Let us do everything we can to bring about a true peace, a just and lasting peace, as soon as possible," Pope Leo said according to the coordination headquarters.
"Let all the prisoners be released and let the children return to their families," he added.
US proposes resuming Nato-Russia Council - report
14:21
,
Alex Croft
The US has proposed reconvening the work of the Nato-Russia Council as part of efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, according to a report.
The council was first established after the Cold War to foster bilateral security cooperation, before it effectively stopped functioning after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With Russia continuing to reject the 30-day ceasefire proposal - and sending what appears to be a low-level delegation for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul - Washington claims to have a new idea to engage Russia.
"The US has since added new details to the proposal, including an offer to revive security talks under the NATO-Russia Council, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity," Bloomberg reported.
Zelensky press conference to begin soon
14:09
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky will soon be holding a press conference in Ankara following his meeting with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Cameras and journalists are just finishing setting up, with the conference expected to get underway soon.
We’ll bring you all the key lines here.
In pictures: Putin meets with Promsvyazbank CEO instead of attending Ukraine peace talks
14:01
,
Bryony Gooch
Putin 'dragging his feet' to delay ceasefire, says Keir Starmer
13:51
,
Bryony Gooch
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Vladimir Putin’s refusal to meet Volodymyr Zelensky face-to-face for peace talks is “further evidence” of the Russian president “dragging his feet” to delay a ceasefire.
The prime minister accused Moscow’s leader of “standing in the way” of a truce after his no-show in Turkey, where his Ukrainian counterpart had said he was prepared to have direct discussions about the war.
Instead of Mr Putin, the Kremlin is sending the president’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and deputy defence and foreign ministers.
Asked what his message was to the Russian leader during a visit to Albania on Thursday, Sir Keir said: “Let me take this head on, because what’s happened today is further evidence that it’s Putin who is dragging his feet.
“It is Putin who is causing the delay in a ceasefire. Ukraine has long been clear, several months ago now, that they would have a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and we have long said that it’s Putin who is standing in the way of that peace.”
In pictures: NATO foreign ministers gather ahead of Russia-Ukraine talks
13:42
,
Bryony Gooch
Ukraine ceasefire only possible if strategy for settling conflict agreed on - Russian ambassador
13:34
,
Bryony Gooch
A special ambassador for Russia's Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik said on Thursday that discussing a possible ceasefire in Ukraine would only be possible once a strategy for settling the conflict had been agreed on.
Russian position on peace has changed to reflect frontline changes - Moscow
13:21
,
Alex Croft
Russia’s position on a peace deal with Ukraine has changed to reflect changes on the frontline, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Asked by Reuters if Russia's position had changed since June 2024 - when President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine must officially drop its Nato ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia - Zakharova said: "Yes, there are these changes in the Russian position."
"These changes are reflected by changes on the ground," she said.
Russia currently controls a little under one fifth of Ukraine, and says the territory is now formally part of Russia, a position Ukraine and Western Europe do not accept.
Drone attacks continue despite upcoming peace talks
13:10
,
Alex Croft
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine continued the night before the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv since March 2022.
A total of 110 drones were fired at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv’s air force said, 91 of which failed to reach their targets.
The Ukrainian regions of Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk all came under attack by a barrage of drones, which reportedly killed at least five civilians.
Moscow says that it destroyed two Ukrainian drones over the Rostov and Belgorod regions.
Trump: 'Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together'
13:06
,
Bryony Gooch
US president Donald Trump has said he wasn’t surprised or disappointed by Vladimir Putin’s absence from the delegation Russia sent to peace talks in Turkey with Ukraine.
The president said: “I know nothing about a delegation. I haven't even checked. Look, nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together. Okay? And obviously he wasn't going to go.
“He was going to go, but he thought I was going to go. He wasn't going if I wasn't there. And I don't believe anything's going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together, but we're going to have to get it solved, because too many people are dying."
Starmer: Putin is dragging his feet over ceasefire
12:58
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin’s failure to take Volodymyr Zelensky up on his offer of face-to-face peace talks is further evidence of the Russian president “dragging his feet” and “standing in the way” of a ceasefire, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Ukrainian president had said he would be waiting for his Russian counterpart in Turkey for direct discussions, but instead the Kremlin is sending Mr Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and deputy defence and foreign ministers.
Asked what his message was to the Russian leader, the Prime Minister told a press conference in Tirana, Albania: “Let me take this head on, because what’s happened today is further evidence that it’s Putin who is dragging his feet.
“It is Putin who is causing the delay in a ceasefire. Ukraine has long been clear, several months ago now, that they would have a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and we have long said that it’s Putin who is standing in the way of that peace.”
Trump-Putin meeting does not hinge on progress in Ukraine talks - senior Russian minister
12:45
,
Alex Croft
A potential future meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump does not directly depend on progress towards peace in Ukraine, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations may hold direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday afternoon.
Zelensky again hits out at 'theatrical' Russian delegation
12:41
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has again hit out at the “theatrical” delegation sent by Russia to talks in Istanbul, and said Kyiv is working to understand what mandate they have from the Kremlin.
Taking to X, the Ukrainian president reiterated his comments that Ukraine is being represented by top level diplomats, including representatives of the presidential and foreign offices.
He said the US side has also sent a high-level delegation. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are expected to be at the talks.
“I have not yet received official confirmation regarding the Russian level of representation,” Mr Zelensky added. “But from what we can observe, it appears theatrical. We will decide on our next steps after the conversation with President Erdoğan.
“It is essential to understand the level of the Russian delegation, what mandate they hold, and whether they are authorised to make any decisions at all – because we all know who actually makes decisions in Russia.”
First and foremost, I want to thank President @RTErdogan for organizing the opportunity for direct negotiations – that was exactly the signal we had received. The Ukrainian side confirmed its readiness, and today, we are here in the capital, in Ankara.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2025
Ukraine is represented by… pic.twitter.com/P0uFaOSlhj
Kremlin: Putin has no plans to travel to Istanbul
12:35
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin has reiterated its earlier confirmation that Russian president Vladimir Putin has no plans to travel to Istanbul for talks with Ukraine.
A Russian delegation is there already to meet the Ukrainian team, it added.
Asked if Putin would go to Istanbul if US President Donald Trump did, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia did not know yet how the negotiations would go and that the Ukrainian delegation had not yet shown up.
More pictures of Zelensky-Erdogan meeting...
12:21
,
Alex Croft
Pictured: Zelensky meets Erdogan in Ankara, Turkley
12:06
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived for his Ankara meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Here is the first photo of the pair...
'I'm here', Zelensky tells Putin in 'very clear message'
11:58