Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday for consultations to end the war “personally”;
His post for X came shortly after Donald Trump requested that Ukraine agree to Putin’s offer of direct talks between the two countries of Turkey.
“There’s no point in extending the murders. And I’m waiting for Putin at Türkiye on Thursday. Personally, Zelensky writes.
He previously said his country is open to discussions with Russia, but only after the ceasefire is in place.
The Western countries have called for a 30-day suspension in the battle that begins Monday after European leaders led the so-called “Willing’s Union” they met in Kiev on Saturday.
Putin’s offer to meet in person followed that intervention.
On Sunday, Trump posted to social media that he would clarify whether Ukraine should “quickly” agree to this and whether there is a way to end the war.
“At least they can determine if a transaction is possible, and if not, European leaders and the US can know where everything is and proceed accordingly,” he said.
In his post on X, Zelensky said he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire before consultations.
“We are waiting for a complete and lasting ceasefire, starting tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,” he said.
In a late-night speech on Saturday, Putin invited Ukraine to participate in “serious negotiations” about the war that began with the full-scale invasion of Russia’s Ukraine in 2022.
Putin said it cannot be ruled out” the possibility that Russia and Ukraine would agree to a “new truce,” but did not directly address the request for a 30-day ceasefire.
“This will be a first step towards long-term and lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian army gained new arms and personnel after the Ukrainian army gained new arms and personnel after the Ukrainian army was able to gain.”
Moscow previously said that the West must first stop military aid to Ukraine before Russia considers a ceasefire.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian president was hosting the UK in Kiev and later discussed their plans with Prime Minister Kiel, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Donald Tass.
Sir Kiel later told the BBC that the US president was “absolutely clear” that the proposal for an immediate ceasefire was a demand that “must be met.”
Appearing at a press conference with Zelensky, they warned that if Putin doesn’t agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, “new and massive” sanctions would be imposed on Russia’s energy and banking sector.
Russia and Ukraine last held direct negotiations in Istanbul in March 2022, shortly after Moscow began the invasion.
More than three years later, both parties agreed, in principle, to resume negotiations. But speaking and trading are very different. Both sides appear to hold red lines that are as far apart as before.
