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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, but only if Russia agrees to a full and lasting ceasefire starting Monday. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.” The announcement marks a potential breakthrough in the three-year-old war that has devastated Ukraine, displaced millions, and reshaped global alliances. 

This comes after US President Donald Trump also weighed in on the potential meeting, using his Truth Social platform to pressure Kyiv. “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire 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.

Renewed Diplomatic Momentum

The prospect of a high-level meeting comes after months of stalled negotiations and hardened positions. Earlier today, Zelenskyy issued a renewed call for a 30-day ceasefire as a prerequisite to direct talks, making it clear that Ukraine would not enter discussions without concrete assurances.

In a statement posted earlier, Zelenskyy welcomed what he called a “positive sign” from Moscow. “It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time,” he said.

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Global Pressure Mounts On Moscow

Zelenskyy's readiness to meet Putin follows increased diplomatic activity, including backchannel communications facilitated by Turkey and pressure from the US and EU leaders. Turkey has positioned itself as a neutral ground for peace talks, having previously hosted grain deal negotiations and prisoner exchanges between the two countries.

While the Kremlin has yet to confirm Putin’s participation, officials in Ankara have reportedly made preparations for the meeting, pending Russia's final response. If confirmed, Thursday's summit in Istanbul could mark the most significant step toward peace since the war began in 2022.

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