Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for direct peace talks in Istanbul this Thursday, signaling a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the ongoing conflict. This invitation comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to accept Putin’s offer for negotiations in Turkey.BBC
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky stated, “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally.” He emphasized that Ukraine remains open to negotiations but insists on a ceasefire as a prerequisite.BBC
This development follows a call from Western leaders for a 30-day pause in hostilities, aiming to create a conducive environment for diplomatic discussions. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, met in Kyiv to advocate for this ceasefire. They warned of imposing “new and massive” sanctions on Russia’s energy and banking sectors should Putin not agree to the unconditional ceasefire “in the air, at sea and on land.”BBC
In response, Putin expressed openness to “serious negotiations” and did not rule out the possibility of a new truce. However, he did not directly address the proposed 30-day ceasefire. He remarked, “This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel.”BBC
Moscow has previously stipulated that Western military aid to Ukraine must cease before considering a ceasefire. The last direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine occurred in March 2022 in Istanbul, shortly after the onset of the conflict.BBC
As both nations signal a willingness to resume talks, the international community watches closely, hopeful that this meeting could pave the way for a lasting resolution to the war.
