In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans on Tuesday to wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Turkish capital for potential face-to-face negotiations aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over three years. This initiative comes amid intense pressure from both the U.S. and European leaders for a peaceful resolution.
Though Putin has not confirmed his attendance, it is part of the broader effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to facilitate discussions to end the hostilities. During a press briefing, Zelenskyy confirmed his itinerary to arrive in Ankara on Thursday, where he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while awaiting Putinโs arrival. Zelenskyy reiterated his commitment to negotiate directly with Putin for a ceasefire as he believes only Putin has the authority to make such a decision.
Zelenskyy mentioned that if Istanbul was chosen for the meeting, both leaders would proceed there from Ankara. โIf Putin does not attend, it signals his lack of interest in ending the war,โ Zelenskyy remarked, emphasizing the importance of further sanctions from European and American leaders against Russia if Putin fails to participate.
Currently on a Middle East tour, Trump indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff would participate in the talks. The U.S. has played a crucial role in urging both parties toward a settlement since Trump assumed office, promising to bring about an end to the conflict.
Military analysts predict neither side is slowing down on preparations for an increased military campaign in the approaching spring-summer period, where extended combat has already claimed the lives of many along an extensive front line. A report from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War underscored Russiaโs efforts to enhance their front-line units with new recruits, signaling ongoing battlefield initiatives.
The international community has increasingly pressured Ukraine and Russia to reach a settlement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meeting with his Greek counterpart, reinforced the call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, stating, โWe are waiting for Putinโs agreement.โ Moreover, Merz alluded to the potential for tightened sanctions, particularly targeting energy and financial sectors, should progress remain stagnant.
Although Zelenskyyโs willingness to travel to Turkey is praised by Merz, he emphasized that the decision rests with Putin to engage in negotiations and establish a ceasefire. Currently, Russia has yet to provide clarity on whether Putin will attend the talks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was non-committal about Russiaโs participation but noted an announcement would be made when necessary.
Ukraine insists any negotiations should be held directly with Putin, as talks with lower-level officials risk prolonging the peace process unnecessarily. European leaders have criticized Putin for delaying peace efforts as he attempts to claim more Ukrainian territory amid military engagements.
Recent actions by Russia, including launching drones against Ukraine, effectively rejected Ukraineโs demand for an unconditional ceasefire. Instead, Putin proposes direct peace dialogues, though differing views on whether a ceasefire should precede talks remain unresolved. Andrii Yermak of Ukraineโs presidential office emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire before any dialogue, given ongoing attacks on Ukrainian soil.
Putin has frequently challenged the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government and Zelenskyyโs presidency, although Zelenskyy dismissed this narrative as Russian misinformation. Despite previous attempts at negotiations early in the conflict, opportunities for direct dialogue between Zelenskyy and Putin have been limited, with only a single past meeting in 2019.
While hope for dialogue is placed on upcoming meetings, a recent decree from Zelenskyy made further negotiations with Putin seemingly unfeasible post the illegal annexations by the Kremlin in 2022. Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to direct discussions and clarified that his enactment does not preclude his personal participation.