Ukraine and Russia are set to resume peace talks in Türkiye this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with him in person to discuss terms of a ceasefire.
The Russian leader said he is “set on serious negotiations” and hopes to agree “on some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire.”
It comes after a group of European leaders proposed a 30-day “complete and unconditional ceasefire,” planned to begin today.
Ceasefires
At negotiations in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, the U.S. proposed a 30-day pause in fighting, during which it would resume military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine.
This deal fell through, but the U.S. later announced it had negotiated a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which borders both nations. The maritime ceasefire never took effect.
Over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Keir Starmer, Polish PM Donald Tusk, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Zelenskyy.
They renewed the proposal of a 30 day “full and unconditional ceasefire,” covering conflict “in the air, at sea and on land.”
The group warned that if Russia attempted to impose any conditions, it would be seen “as an effort to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy.”
Zelenskyy said he is waiting for “a clear response from Russia.”
In a post to social media on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to “have the meeting, now” to “determine whether or not a deal is possible.”
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Türkiye
In an official statement, Putin said he had requested Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan facilitate negotiations in Istanbul.
Türkiye has confirmed it “stands ready to host the negotiations that will lead to a lasting solution.”
Ahead of the talks, Erdoğan urged Russia to accept the offer of a 30-day ceasefire, saying it “would create the necessary environment for peace talks.”
Comments
Putin said Russia is ready for peace talks “without any preliminary conditions”.
This has been understood to be in reference to the 30 day ceasefire.
Putin accused Ukraine of undermining Russia’s efforts to achieve “a long-term, sustainable peace,” claiming Ukrainian authorities are “seemingly guided by their personal political ambitions, rather than the interests of their peoples”.
Ahead of this week’s talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has “absolutely no problem engaging in negotiations... [in] any format.“
Zelenskyy said his offer of a 30-day ceasefire remains “on the table,” insisting it is “long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy”.
He added that he hopes “Putin won’t be looking for excuses as to why he ‘can’t’ make it” to the peace talks.
