Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday for direct talks aimed at ending the war.
The announcement came shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Ukraine to accept Putin’s offer of negotiations in Turkey.
“There is no point in prolonging the killings. I will be waiting for Putin in TĂĽrkiye on Thursday—personally,” Zelensky posted on social media.
Zelensky has previously expressed openness to negotiations with Russia, but only under the condition of a ceasefire. In his latest post, he reiterated this, saying, “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy.”
The push for talks follows a recent appeal from Western powers for a 30-day pause in fighting, proposed to begin Monday. The appeal came after European leaders, part of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” met in Kyiv over the weekend.
Putin responded to the coalition’s initiative by inviting Ukraine to engage in what he called “serious negotiations.” In a televised speech on Saturday, he said he would not rule out a potential new truce, though he stopped short of explicitly supporting the proposed 30-day ceasefire.
Trump, responding on social media Sunday, urged Ukraine to agree to the talks “immediately.” He said the meeting could clarify whether peace was possible and would help guide next steps for the U.S. and its allies. “Have the meeting, now!” he wrote.
Putin said a truce could mark “the first step toward a long-term, lasting peace,”
than just a pause before renewed hostilities.
