Europeans issue Russia ultimatum ahead of Istanbul talks

European Foreign Ministers Discuss Further Support for Ukraine Ahead of Istanbul Meeting Europe Insists on Ceasefire; Moscow Rejects "Ultimatum Language" Views of Istanbul What Was the Background to the London Talks

On May 12, a meeting of the foreign ministers of Great Britain , France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the HEAD of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas took place in London. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga joined it via video link. The format of the meeting was defined as the "Weimar Triangle Plus"; its goal was to discuss further support for Kiev and security issues on the continent.

The Europeans gathered two days after the “coalition of the willing” proposed a “complete and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days.” European leaders announced the proposal in Kiev on May 10; US President Donald Trump was briefed on the progress of the talks . According to the coalition members, a ceasefire on the Russian-Ukrainian line of contact should be established on May 12, so that the parties can agree on peace terms within 30 days. It is assumed that the ceasefire in the air, at sea and on land will be monitored in close coordination with the US, and the main element of security guarantees for Ukraine should be a peacekeeping contingent (earlier, Moscow has repeatedly stated that RUSSIA will not tolerate the presence of NATO military units in the republic).

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a counter-proposal to resume direct talks with Ukraine without any preconditions. He proposed resuming direct contacts in Istanbul on May 15, where the last meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place in March 2022, after which Kiev stopped the dialogue. According to Putin, a ceasefire could be discussed there. Thus, he effectively rejected the initiative of Ukraine and European countries and made it clear that Russia would not cease fire on May 12. Moscow assessed the rhetoric of Kiev and its partners as the "language of ultimatums," and "one cannot speak to Russia in such a language."

"Before this warning, we already heard a warning the day before yesterday, if you remember. They were also voiced in a rather ultimatum form," said Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov on May 12, commenting on the topic of possible new sanctions. "But such language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not appropriate. You cannot speak to Russia in such language."

"In 2022, former German Chancellor A. Merkel and former French President F. Hollande said that no one planned to implement the MINSK agreements, and the agreements themselves were needed to buy time for Ukraine to prepare to resolve the "Donbass problem" by force," said the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova on the same day , answering a question from the media. "Today, the same countries are seeking a 30-day truce to give Kiev a breathing space to restore its military potential and continue the confrontation with Russia."

Trump supported Putin's initiative - on May 11, he called on the Ukrainian authorities to immediately agree to a meeting in Istanbul, and the next day he said that it was he who "very strongly insisted" on organizing this meeting, and even said that he could come to it. The resumption of negotiations was also supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - he and Putin spoke on the phone about their organization on May 11. "The Turkish side will provide all possible assistance in organizing and holding negotiations aimed at achieving sustainable peace," the Kremlin said in a statement following this conversation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Russia begin observing a ceasefire on May 12, but he did not reject a meeting in Istanbul. “We in Ukraine have no problem holding talks: we are ready for any format. I will be in Turkey this Thursday, May 15, and I expect Putin in Turkey. Personally. And I hope that this time Putin will not look for reasons why he cannot do something. We are ready to talk to end the war,” Zelensky said in a video address on May 11.

While Zelensky promised to participate in the Istanbul talks himself, Putin did not announce his presence. It is still unknown who will be part of the Russian delegation. Three years ago, Russia was represented by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, deputy foreign minister Andrei Rudenko, ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin, and head of the State Duma committee on international affairs Leonid Slutsky. The Kremlin promised to announce later who will be part of the delegation now.

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on May 12, called the upcoming meeting in Istanbul “very important.” “I think good things can come out of that meeting,” the American leader said. He also said he was considering joining the talks. “My understanding is that both leaders will be there. I was thinking about flying there. I don’t know, I’ll have a few meetings, but I was thinking about flying there if I thought something was going to happen,” Trump said.

What ultimatum did the Europeans give to Russia?

All participants in the London meeting spoke in favor of continuing pressure on Russia if it refuses to establish a ceasefire without preconditions.

A joint statement issued following the Weimar+ talks called on Russia to “make urgent progress” toward negotiations on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. “Russia has so far shown no serious intention to make progress,” the document noted.

"Any peace will only last if it is based on international law, including the UN Charter, and if Ukraine can deter and defend itself against any future Russian attack <...> We discussed how we will further strengthen European support for Ukraine in its ongoing defence against Russian aggression," the statement said.

Ahead of the meeting, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised Zelensky's willingness to negotiate, saying Putin must now "take seriously" a ceasefire and engage in consultations.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul noted that Berlin expects Moscow to agree to a ceasefire. "It was clearly stated that a ceasefire must first be established. Ukraine is ready for this. Germany now expects Russia to agree to a truce and then be ready for negotiations," he noted. If Russia "obstructs progress toward peace," new sanctions await it . Wadephul emphasized that the US Senate is already prepared to introduce additional restrictions. German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius threatened that if Russia refuses a truce on May 12, preparations for sanctions will be launched. "The clock is ticking," he said.

Wadeful also allowed for the provision of additional military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to The New York Times, Germany recently received US approval to supply Ukraine with 100 Patriot air defense missiles and 125 long-range missiles (they are manufactured in the US and cannot be exported without permission from the US government, even if they belong to another country).

French President Emmanuel Macron also said on May 11 that there was little time left to think, noting that the proposal for a 30-day ceasefire for Russia was only valid until Monday evening. “I will talk to Volodymyr Zelensky and my European colleagues today. The framework has been outlined. Everything is clear,” he told reporters.

France's European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad also said in London that an unconditional ceasefire on land, in the air and at sea for 30 days was needed to "unblock the negotiations." "President Zelensky has repeatedly shown that he is open to negotiations, that he wants diplomacy, that he wants peace," he said, noting that he would reiterate his call for sweeping sanctions if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters the West needed to continue pressuring the Kremlin to "abandon its goals in Ukraine" but expressed hope the sides would find a way to cease fire and hold "productive, real talks" on ending hostilities and "restoring respect for international law."

His Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albarez, expressed a similar opinion, noting that Europe and Ukraine want peace and "now it's up to Russia." Like the head of German diplomacy, he confirmed his country's readiness to continue providing military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. In conclusion, Albarez noted that the upcoming meeting in Istanbul should not become just "a way to delay the solution to the problem."

Sybiha told reporters that the discussions in London focused on coordinating peace efforts and working together with the United States. "We have coordinated our strategies for this week, which will be decisive for peace and responsibility," the Ukrainian minister said ( quoted by Ukrainska Pravda).

A statement released following the meeting noted that European countries agreed to keep frozen Russian assets in their jurisdictions “until Russia stops its aggression and pays for the damage caused.”

Commissioner Kallas accused Russia of “playing games” with the ceasefire. Separately, the head of European diplomacy highlighted the prospects for a new agreement on cooperation in the field of defense and security between the EU and the UK, which could be signed at their first joint summit after Brexit, scheduled for May 19.

As head of the UK government , Keir Starmer has set a course for establishing ties with European allies, including in the military sphere. In October 2024, the UK signed the Trinity House Agreement on defence cooperation with Germany, which envisages joint exercises on NATO’s eastern flank, a joint programme of support for Ukraine, naval cooperation to protect the North Sea and the development of long-range missiles. In January of this year, it was decided to conclude a similar agreement with Poland.

The EU is currently working on a 17th package of anti-Russian sanctions. The measures are expected to be adopted next week. Kallas, however, acknowledged that secondary sanctions, including on Russian oil , are unlikely to be agreed in the coming days. But, she said, the moment had come because oil and gas revenues “fuel the Russian war machine.”

PreviouslyREUTERS reported that the new package of restrictions implies stricter EXPORT controls on dual-use goods, as well as an expansion of the list of sanctioned shadow fleets used by Russia to export oil. The agency's source specified that about 50 individuals and legal entities, including five from CHINA , will fall under the sanctions .