Zelensky Willing to Meet Putin for Peace Talks Amid Ceasefire Demands

While seeking an immediate ceasefire, Zelensky is ready to engage in dialogue with Putin to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in person on Thursday in Istanbul to discuss an end to the ongoing war. This statement comes on the heels of former President Donald Trump's urging for Ukraine to accept an offer for direct talks with Russia in Turkey. "There is no point in prolonging the killings. I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday, personally," Zelensky wrote, underscoring the urgency of dialogue. Previously, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine would be open to negotiations only if a ceasefire was in place.

Calls for a 30-day pause in hostilities were issued by Western allies following a meeting in Kyiv led by European leaders. Subsequently, Putin extended an invitation for serious negotiations about the conflict, first sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On Sunday, Trump reinforced the idea that engaging in talks could reveal whether a resolution is feasible, adding that a meeting could clarify the current situation.

Zelensky, in his message, expressed hope for Russia's compliance with a ceasefire ahead of the potential negotiations. He said, "We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy." Despite Putin advocating for discussions, he opted not to reply directly to the requests for a ceasefire.

Previously, Moscow has stated that a cessation of hostilities would be contingent upon the West pausing its military support for Ukraine. The last direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine occurred in March 2022 in Istanbul, shortly after the invasion began. Recently, Zelensky hosted several European leaders in Kyiv, where they discussed the critical need for an immediate ceasefire and posed consequences, including new sanctions, should Putin not acquiesce to the demands for a 30-day ceasefire in all theaters of conflict.