Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally” in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss ending the ongoing conflict. This announcement followed calls from Donald Trump for Ukraine to immediately accept Putin’s offer of direct talks in Turkey.
“There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Zelensky wrote in a social media post.
He had previously stated that Ukraine was open to negotiations with Russia, but only under the condition of an established ceasefire.
Western powers had advocated for a 30-day cessation of hostilities to commence on Monday, following a meeting of European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday. Putin’s offer of direct talks came after this international intervention.
On Sunday, Trump posted on social media, urging Ukraine to accept the meeting “immediately,” asserting that it would provide clarity on the possibility of a resolution. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly,” he said, adding: “Have the meeting, now!”
In his X post, Zelensky expressed his hope that Russia would agree to a ceasefire before the proposed talks. “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,” he stated.
In a late-night address on Saturday, Putin invited Ukraine to engage in “serious negotiations” regarding the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin indicated he could “not rule out” the possibility that the talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing to “a new truce,” but did not directly address the calls for a 30-day ceasefire.
The Russian leader stated, “This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel, after feverish trench-digging and the establishment of new command posts.” Moscow has previously stipulated that a halt to Western military aid to Ukraine is a prerequisite for any Russian consideration of a ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine last held direct negotiations in Istanbul in March 2022, shortly after the commencement of the Russian invasion.
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On Saturday, Zelensky hosted UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German politician Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv. Following their meeting, they engaged in a discussion with Trump regarding their proposed plan.
Sir Keir later informed the BBC that the US president was “absolutely clear” that their suggestion of an immediate ceasefire was a “demand that must be met.”
During a joint news conference with Zelensky, the European leaders warned that “new and massive” sanctions would be imposed on Russia’s energy and banking sectors if Putin did not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire “in the air, at sea and on land.”
