Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his willingness to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, in what could be the most significant step yet toward ending the war between the two nations. The announcement comes directly after former President Donald Trump publicly called for immediate peace talks, urging Ukraine to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire.
Zelensky made his position clear: no talks will move forward unless a complete and verifiable ceasefire is in place. “We await a full and lasting ceasefire starting tomorrow,” he said. “There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally.”
The statement follows Trump’s powerful appeal on Truth Social, where he called on Ukraine to respond to Putin’s reported interest in negotiating a peace deal. Trump wrote, “President Putin doesn’t want just a ceasefire—he wants direct talks in Turkey. Ukraine should agree to this IMMEDIATELY to stop the bloodshed.”
While Putin has not yet confirmed whether he will attend in person, the Kremlin has signaled openness to discussions—provided they include key issues such as NATO expansion and the status of territories currently under Russian control. The meeting, if it happens, would be the first direct dialogue between Zelensky and Putin since 2019.
European leaders, including those from France, Germany, and Poland, have echoed Trump’s call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to allow room for diplomacy. The UK has also backed the effort and warned that continued aggression from Russia could trigger a new round of economic sanctions.
Turkey has officially offered to host the talks, with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an stepping forward as a neutral facilitator. Ankara has played a key diplomatic role in previous rounds of negotiation and is viewed as a trusted intermediary by both Moscow and Kyiv.
If successful, the Istanbul summit could represent a major breakthrough in the years-long conflict, delivering on Trump’s pledge to restore peace through bold diplomacy and global leadership. The world will be watching closely as Thursday approaches.