Zelensky agrees to meet with Putin in Turkey - Decision comes after Trump's call to negotiate end to war
Ukrainian President Zelensky has agreed to meet with Vladimir Putin in Turkey, following Donald Trump's call for immediate peace talks. Putin proposed direct negotiations without preconditions, stressing that the goal is a lasting peace.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will host Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, after Donald Trump insisted that Ukraine accept talks with Russia.
The US president demanded that Ukrainian officials agree "immediately" to meet with their Russian counterparts to negotiate a possible end to the war.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "President Putin of Russia does not want to have a Ceasefire Agreement with Ukraine, but wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the bloodshed."
He continued: “Ukraine should agree to this, immediately. At least they will be able to determine whether a deal is possible or not, and if it is not, European leaders and the US will know where the situation stands and can act accordingly!”
Trump added: "I am beginning to doubt that Ukraine will reach a deal with Putin, who is too busy celebrating Victory in World War II, which would not have been won without the United States of America. Make the meeting happen, now!!!"
It is not clear whether such a meeting would involve the Russian leader himself. Shortly after the US president's tweet, Zelensky said he would travel to Turkey.
He wrote on X: “We expect a complete and lasting ceasefire, starting tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be expecting Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
It is not known whether delegations from the US or the European coalition will also participate in the talks.
Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine, saying they should aim to bring about a lasting peace. The Russian leader, who has so far offered few concessions toward ending the conflict, said the talks in Istanbul on May 15 would aim to eliminate the root causes of the war and restore a "long-term and sustainable peace" rather than simply a pause in rearmament.
"We are proposing that Kiev resume direct negotiations without any preconditions," Putin said. "We offer the Ukrainian authorities to resume negotiations on Thursday, in Istanbul."
"Our proposal is on the table. The decision now depends on the Ukrainian authorities and their leaders, who, it seems, are guided by personal political ambitions and not by the interests of their people."
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