Zelensky tells Putin he will be waiting for him in Turkey and ceasefire talks
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has thrown down a challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirming he will be ready to meet him face-to-face in Turkey this week to try and negotiate a path toward a ceasefire.
After the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ world leaders converged in Kyiv over the weekend in a show of support for Ukraine and to apply pressure for Putin to agree to a resolution to the conflict, Zelensky took to social media to tell the world he will be waiting for Mr Putin this week.
His post on X came shortly after US President Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Putin’s offer of direct talks between the two countries.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Zelensky wrote.
He had earlier said his country was open to talks with Russia but only after a ceasefire was in place.
On Sunday Trump then posted on social media that Ukraine should agree to this “immediately” and it would provide clarity on whether there was a way to end the war.
“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly” he said, adding: “Have the meeting, now!”
In his post on X, Zelensky said he hoped Russia would agree to the ceasefire before the talks.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,” he said.
A weekend address from Putin included an invite for Ukraine to take part in “serious negotiations” over the war and said he could “not rule out” the possibility that the talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing on “a new truce”.
“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, after feverish trench-digging and the establishment of new command post,” the Russian leader added.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian president played host in Kyiv to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Poland’s Donald Tusk, who later called Trump to discuss their plan.
Sir Keir later told the BBC the US president was “absolutely clear” that their suggestion of an immediate ceasefire was a “demand that must be met”.
Appearing at a news conference with Zelensky, they warned that “new and massive” sanctions would be imposed on Russia’s energy and banking sectors should Putin not agree to the unconditional 30-day ceasefire “in the air, at sea and on land”.
With AAP.
