The diplomatic dance intensified following yesterday's European peace initiative. Early morning, Putin proposed direct negotiations in Istanbul starting May 15, notably omitting mention of a ceasefire. Zelensky responded that Ukraine was ready for talks, but insisted on the May 12 ceasefire as a precondition. Trump intervened by afternoon, urging Ukraine to accept negotiations immediately.

The pressure yielded results by evening when Zelensky dramatically announced he would "personally wait for Putin in Turkey on Thursday," marking a significant shift toward direct leader-level talks. Erdogan confirmed Turkey's readiness to host negotiations after speaking with both Putin and Macron.

Military actions continued despite diplomatic overtures. Russia launched 108 drones overnight, with Ukrainian forces shooting down 60. The Pokrovsk front remained the hottest sector with over half of the day's 67 reported clashes occurring there.