Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he is willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday.
The move came after pressure from US President Donald Trump, who pressed Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s invitation for direct talks. In a post on X, Zelenskyy also reaffirmed that Ukraine is looking forward to a complete ceasefire to commence on Monday, paving the way for possible diplomatic breakthrough.
We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2025
And I will wait for Putin in Turkey on Thursday,” he posted, indicating a major move toward putting an end to the current conflict.
