Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, provided a full ceasefire is established. This comes in response to Putin’s proposal for negotiations in Turkey, made after Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire initiative put forward by Ukraine and its European allies, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing The Guardian.
Zelenskyy emphasized that any talks are only possible if hostilities are halted entirely and immediately. He stressed that continued violence is meaningless and expressed hope that this time Russia would not search for excuses.
European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, supported the demand for an immediate ceasefire before any negotiations begin. They warned that if Russia refuses, additional sanctions could be imposed and military support for Ukraine intensified.
Despite making claims of readiness for talks, Russia continues its military operations, including overnight drone attacks on Ukrainian territory. These actions cast doubt on Moscow’s sincerity regarding a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The planned meeting in Istanbul, scheduled for Thursday, could mark the first direct contact between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders since March 2022, when the last known negotiations took place.
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