I am ready to go to Istanbul for ceasefire talks with Putin – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

I am ready to go to Istanbul for ceasefire talks with Putin – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to travel to Istanbul to hold ceasefire talks with Putin.The Ukrainian president also confirmed that he is scheduled to meet the Turkish president in Ankara on Thursday.
 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he is ready to travel to Istanbul to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, if necessary.

On Sunday, Russian President Putin proposed holding direct peace talks with Kyiv in Istanbul on May 15, without any preconditions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later confirmed, during a phone call with Putin, that Türkiye is ready to host the negotiations.

This high-level diplomatic effort is being facilitated by Türkiye and would mark the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since early 2022.

In response to the proposal, Zelenskyy said he would "personally" be in Türkiye on Thursday "awaiting Putin," while also reiterating his hope that a ceasefire will begin on Monday to "create the necessary foundation for diplomacy."

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is scheduled to meet the Turkish president in Ankara on Thursday, where they would await Putin's arrival.

Zelenskyy added, “To prevent Russia from playing games with the cities and claiming that Putin is unwilling to go to Ankara and only wants to go to Istanbul… I want to clarify in advance: if Putin chooses Istanbul, the Turkish side is prepared, and President Erdogan and I can both go to Istanbul.”

He continued, “If Putin is truly ready to meet not only in the media but also in reality, then we as leaders will do everything possible to agree on a ceasefire.”

When asked what outcome from talks with Putin would be most acceptable to Ukraine, Zelenskyy replied, “I think a ceasefire,” explaining that halting the conflict would be only the first step toward ending the war.

The Ukrainian president also denied having any confirmed information about whether U.S. President Donald Trump would be attending the talks in Türkiye.

“There are some indications (that he might come), but at this moment we have no confirmation that he will be there,” Zelenskyy added