Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct peace talks in Istanbul, following a push by U.S. President Donald Trump urging him to accept Russia’s proposal for negotiations without delay.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky confirmed his willingness to engage in diplomacy aimed at ending the devastating war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. He emphasized that Ukraine expects a full and lasting ceasefire to take effect on Monday as a critical first step toward meaningful dialogue.
“We expect a complete ceasefire to begin tomorrow,” Zelensky wrote. “And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday.”
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The announcement comes after Putin publicly invited Kyiv to resume direct negotiations without preconditions, proposing Istanbul as the venue. While previous diplomatic efforts between the two nations have stalled or broken down, this latest initiative—apparently backed by Trump—raises cautious hopes of a potential turning point in the conflict.
Zelensky’s statement marks a rare moment of openness to dialogue after months of intensified fighting on multiple fronts. It remains to be seen whether Russia will honor the ceasefire commitment and whether substantive progress can be achieved in the upcoming talks.
International observers, regional powers, and millions of Ukrainians will be watching closely as Thursday’s meeting approaches, hoping it might finally lead to a breakthrough in what has become one of the most destructive conflicts in recent European history.
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