United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has stated that any Ukraine peace agreement hinges on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval. In an interview, Witkoff stressed, “There is no deal without President Putin's sign off,” defending the necessity of engaging directly with Moscow. He also noted that President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum for tangible progress in negotiations, or the US will disengage.

Witkoff identified territorial disputes, access to the Dnieper River, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as core issues, calling Zaporizhzhia a “crown jewel” of the negotiations due to its strategic energy importance. He acknowledged Russia's overwhelming control in two of the five contested regions, while Ukraine maintains influence over the remaining three.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly ruled out meetings with any Russian officials other than Putin during his upcoming visit to Istanbul. Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak clarified that talks with lower-ranking Russian officials would be “pointless,” underscoring Zelensky's insistence on direct leadership-level negotiations.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has delayed announcing the names of its delegates for the Istanbul talks. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said their identities will be disclosed when Putin deems it appropriate, reflecting Russia's tight control over the negotiation process.

On the European front, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Russia of deliberately stalling peace efforts, claiming Moscow “clearly wants war” while “playing games” in hopes of gaining time. She announced plans for a 17th sanctions package against Russia and stressed the need for continuous pressure, while acknowledging challenges with sanction enforcement and circumvention.

As the May 15 Istanbul meeting approaches, diplomatic efforts intensify, yet significant hurdles remain, with both sides standing firm on core issues and Western allies seeking to maintain pressure on Moscow.