Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him in Turkey this week to begin negotiations to end the three-year war between their countries.
But he stipulated that any discussions must begin with a pause in fighting.
“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,” Zelensky wrote Sunday in a post on the social platform X.
“And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelensky continued.
Putin proposed Sunday direct talks with Ukraine to take place Thursday in Istanbul “to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace.” Russia also launched drone attacks on Kyiv, The Associated Press reported, just hours after Putin proposed the talks.
President Trump has pushed for both countries to sign on to a temporary truce, a plan only Ukraine has endorsed so far. But on Sunday, he urged Zelensky to agree to meet with Putin in Turkey.
“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 said on Truth Social.
Trump added in the post that the meeting would help “determine whether or not a deal is possible” so European and American leaders can determine “where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!”
“I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War II, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!” Trump added.
The effort comes as Ukraine and its allies in Europe — France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland — have turned up the pressure on Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire. Trump, too, has warned that if the deal is not forged, Russia could suffer from more sanctions.
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