May 12, 2025 – Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey for direct peace talks. This statement came after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that such talks are necessary to see if peace is possible between the two countries.
Zelensky’s offer comes as the war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the two sides have not held any in-person talks.
Zelensky posted on social media, saying, “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy.” He added that continuing the violence is pointless, saying, “There is no point in prolonging the killings.” He also confirmed that he would be willing to meet Putin in Turkey on Thursday if a ceasefire is agreed upon.
“I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelensky added, showing his commitment to finding peace.
This offer comes after Ukraine and its allies proposed a 30-day ceasefire on Saturday to give room for peace talks. Zelensky did not say if he would still meet Putin if Russia rejects the ceasefire.
The Russian government has not yet responded to Zelensky’s offer. On Sunday, Putin suggested resuming peace talks that were held in Istanbul in March 2022, but he did not address the ceasefire proposal from Ukraine’s allies.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump called for Ukraine to meet with Putin. Trump said on his Truth Social platform, “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible.” He also criticized the ongoing violence, calling it a “bloodbath.”
Trump urged Ukraine to agree to the talks and said that if peace is not possible, European leaders and the U.S. would then know where things stand and could act accordingly.
So far, Ukraine and Russia have set certain conditions for peace talks. Ukraine wants Russia to stop its aggression before sitting down for talks, while Russia wants recognition of the territories it has taken over in Ukraine.
Turkey, which has played a role in earlier negotiations, could act as a mediator. Peace talks were first held in Istanbul in 2022 but ended without results.
The world is watching closely, as the meeting in Turkey on Thursday could lead to an important step in ending the war, but it remains unclear if both sides will agree to a ceasefire and meaningful talks.
For more updates, visit QUESTIQA.COM
About The Author
