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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Donald Trump to facilitate a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, asserting that the Russian leader is not genuinely interested in negotiating an end to the war.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelensky stated that if Putin fails to attend the meeting, the West should impose severe sanctions.
He emphasised his commitment to doing “everything” possible to ensure the meeting takes place and to secure a ceasefire.
The Kremlin has remained ambiguous about Putin’s potential travel to Turkey, despite Putin himself proposing Russia-Ukraine talks in a recent address. This meeting would mark the first direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials since the early stages of the 2022 invasion.
Trump, who took office promising a swift resolution to the conflict, has expressed growing frustration with both Moscow and Kyiv for their perceived unwillingness to compromise.
“I do not know the US president’s decision, but if he confirms his participation, I think it would give additional impetus for Putin to come,” Zelensky said during a press conference.
Trump had previously indicated he was “thinking” about attending the talks, urging both leaders to be present.
Zelensky expressed scepticism about Putin’s sincerity regarding peace, stating, “Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a ceasefire, does not want any negotiations.”
However, he reiterated his determination to make the meeting happen. He urged the United States to impose the “strongest” sanctions on Russia if Putin does not attend, viewing his absence as a clear sign of unwillingness to end the war.
Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, declined to provide details about Russia’s delegation for the talks, stating that preparations were ongoing and further comments would be made when deemed necessary by the president. Putin himself did not mention the talks during a business forum on Tuesday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia would use the talks to address its key objectives, including the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine and the “incorporation of new territories into the Russian Federation,” narratives rejected by Kyiv and the West.
Putin’s proposal for talks came as a counteroffer to calls from Kyiv and European nations for a 30-day ceasefire.
The conflict, which began in February 2022, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with Russia now controlling a substantial portion of Ukraine, including Crimea.
Russia did not directly respond to the ceasefire request, but the Kremlin criticised European “ultimatums.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of further European sanctions if there was no “real progress” towards peace, urging Putin to meet Zelensky.
The EU’s Kaja Kallas also supported the meeting but questioned Putin’s willingness to attend.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host the talks and urged both sides to seize the “window of opportunity” for peace.
Zelensky announced plans to meet with Erdogan in Ankara and expressed readiness to meet Putin in Turkey.
Previous talks in Istanbul in March 2022 did not yield a resolution, and contact between the warring parties has since been limited to humanitarian issues.
