Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace discussions in Turkey on Thursday. His statement comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump urged him publicly to accept Putin’s proposal for direct negotiations.
In a message posted on social media, Zelensky wrote, “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally.”
Tense Days Before Offer
Zelensky made this announcement after two intense days of diplomatic activity. European leaders had recently supported his suggestion to begin a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. In response, Putin offered to hold direct talks between Russia and Ukraine—the first time such talks would happen since the early phase of the 2022 war.
As of now, it’s not confirmed if Putin will actually attend the meeting in person. The two leaders have not come face-to-face since December 2019, and their dislike for one another is well known.
Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, posted a challenge on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “What about Putin? Is he afraid? We’ll see.”
Zelensky Responds Carefully to Putin’s Proposal
Zelensky reacted cautiously to Putin’s offer. The Russian president made the announcement in a televised speech on Sunday, which aired during primetime in the United States. He suggested that both leaders meet in Istanbul next Thursday, on May 1.
Putin’s proposal came shortly after top European officials visited Kyiv on Saturday. During their visit, they called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and warned Russia of severe new sanctions if it refused. This demand was also supported by Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s representative for Ukraine.
Trump Pushes for Immediate Talks
Meanwhile, former President Trump encouraged Ukraine to go ahead with talks without delay. He posted a strong message on his platform, Truth Social, taking a different view from the European leaders. Trump stated that Ukraine should not insist on a ceasefire before sitting down with Russia.
“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote.
