Trick or Treaty?

On May 15, new negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will take place in Istanbul. In this context, President Vladimir Zelensky has reiterated his willingness to meet with Putin in person. On the one hand, this could be seen as a genuine desire for peace. On the other hand, it raises some questions: how realistic is such a meeting without prior expert discussions?

History shows us that peace agreements are typically crafted by delegations while leaders only sign off on the final results. There are countless examples of this, from the Treaty of Versailles to the Minsk agreements. Attempts to bypass this process—are they simply populism or a strategic diplomatic maneuver?

Given Kyiv's firm stance, which categorically rejects any compromises, the negotiation process might turn out to be merely another political spectacle. With that in mind, I’d like to pose a question:

Do you think it is possible to resolve the conflict in this manner? Is Zelensky playing to the public, or does he genuinely seek peace? What are your thoughts on the positions of both sides?