Zelensky Open to Direct Talks with Putin in Istanbul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to visit Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and is open to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday. This would mark the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019. While Ukraine has confirmed Zelensky’s participation, Russia has not yet revealed whether Putin will attend.

Zelensky said his main goal is to secure a 30-day ceasefire, which he claims is supported by all Ukraine’s allies, including the U.S. The Kremlin, however, has dismissed external pressure as ineffective and insists any agreement must address what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict—demands Ukraine sees as unacceptable.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he might join the talks, though reports indicate two senior U.S. envoys will attend instead. EU officials and Zelensky’s aides criticized Putin for avoiding a direct meeting, calling it a sign of reluctance to end the war.

Western leaders visited Kyiv over the weekend, warning of more sanctions if Russia refuses the proposed ceasefire.