Photo : EPA Photo
Photo : EPA Photo
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 17 May, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international community to impose severe sanctions on Russia's banking and energy sectors if the ongoing negotiations in Istanbul yield no concrete results. Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Zelensky criticized Russia's approach to the talks, accusing Moscow of turning the negotiations into a “staged, empty process.” Zelenskyy called for a complete and unconditional ceasefire as a sign of Russia's genuine commitment to peace. He also pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant real negotiating authority to his delegation to ensure meaningful diplomacy. The Ukrainian delegation’s main goal in the discussions is securing a lasting ceasefire to create space for genuine peace talks.
On 17 May, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, leading Ukraine's delegation in Istanbul, announced Ukraine's readiness for a full ceasefire and high-level direct negotiations with Russia. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to peace efforts, highlighting recent constructive steps taken in peace discussions, and stressed that Ukraine is prepared for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire. He also emphasized that any meaningful peace must involve Russia taking concrete actions, such as agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire, returning forcibly deported Ukrainian children, and committing to a full prisoner exchange.
On 17 May, Ukrinform reported that Ukrainian forces faced intense urban combat in the Toretsk sector, where Russian troops have been advancing by systematically destroying Ukrainian defensive positions. As per the report, 20 combat engagements were reported, with assaults concentrated around Kramatorsk and Toretsk, including heavy fighting for Chasiv Yar and Toretsk itself. Despite the Russian advances, Ukrainian forces are inflicting significant losses, with reports suggesting over 15,000 Russian troops are missing, possibly dead.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 17 May, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticised Zelensky’s demand asking Putin attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul, dismissing it as a misunderstanding of diplomatic norms. The planned talks, which mark the first direct negotiations since 2022, will feature senior Russian officials but not Putin himself—a point the Kremlin insists was never on the table. Zelensky dismissed Russia’s delegation as a mere “theatre prop,” prompting further backlash from Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Zelenskyy of being a puppet installed through media manipulation and financial backing, and derided his criticism of Russia’s delegation as unqualified.
On 16 May, the Kremlin emphasized the importance of a meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, calling it "undoubtedly essential." for progress in war. Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that while such talks are crucial, they must produce tangible outcomes. This comes after Trump expressed his doubts on Ukraine and Russia reaching any agreement until his direct meeting with Putin.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 17 May, the EU agreed on a 17th round of sanctions against Russia, with further measures threatened if Moscow refuses a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire backed by the US and its allies. The sanctions were finalized just ahead of planned Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey, amid uncertainty over President Putin's attendance. The new package targets 189 additional vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to bypass oil trade restrictions, and 75 individuals and over 30 companies linked to the military-industrial sector, including entities in third countries such as Kazakhstan and the UAE. It also bans exports of EU-made chemicals that could be used for missile production. EU leaders, including France’s President Macron, signalled readiness to expand sanctions to Russia’s energy and financial sectors if diplomatic efforts continue to stall.
On 17 May, Germany and UK’s defence ministers held a meeting in Berlin to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and coordinate further support for Ukraine, as the EU pledged to double its heavy calibre ammunition deliveries to Kyiv in 2025. The meeting, marked the first ministerial defence council since last year’s cooperation agreement, comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed calls for stronger European defence investment. UK’s Defence Minister John Healey criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for rejecting a ceasefire and skipping proposed peace talks in Turkey, calling it a clear sign of bad faith. Meanwhile, EU Military Committee Chair Robert Brieger announced a plan to deliver two million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine in 2025 to ramp up production through EU Defence Agency contracts and cooperation with Ukraine’s arms industry.
On 16 May, according to the report in Deutsche Welle, talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations began in Istanbul, marking their first direct meeting in three years, with Turkish officials. While trilateral discussions involve all major parties, expectations remain low. Rubio, stated that the US has little hope for progress. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky confirmed his team's readiness for talks without preconditions. However, Zelenskyy refused to join the citing Putin’s absence and lack of commitment to peace. Russia, in turn, accused Ukraine of turning the talks into a political performance.
On the same day, Rubio stated that a ceasefire in Ukraine could only be achieved through direct talks between Trump and Putin. Rubio said that meaningful progress would require Trump to confront Putin directly, calling it the only viable path to peace given recent developments. His comments came ahead of scheduled negotiations between Ukraine’s and Russia’s delegations in Turkey.