Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on former U.S. President Donald Trump to help facilitate a long-awaited meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey, in a bid to negotiate an end to the war that has ravaged Ukraine since 2022.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized that he would do “everything” to make the meeting happen and warned that if Putin fails to attend, the West should respond with the “strongest” sanctions yet against Moscow.
“Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a ceasefire, does not want any negotiations,” Zelensky stated, underscoring his belief that the Russian president is not serious about peace.
The proposed talks, potentially hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would mark the first direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials since early in the war. Erdogan has expressed readiness to host the meeting, calling on both sides to seize this “window of opportunity.”
The Kremlin, however, remains noncommittal. When pressed on whether Putin would attend, spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to provide details, saying only that “the Russian side continues to prepare for the talks.”
Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday or Thursday, reiterating his willingness to meet Putin either there or in Istanbul. Trump, who assumed office in January with promises of ending the conflict swiftly, has expressed interest in the talks, saying he is “thinking” about attending.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that Moscow would use any talks to reaffirm its demands, including Ukraine’s “de-Nazification” and the recognition of Russian control over newly annexed territories — claims Ukraine and Western allies dismiss as imperialist propaganda.
Germany and other European powers are also pushing for progress. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of new sanctions if no “real progress” is made, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas supported the idea of direct talks but questioned whether Putin “dares” to show up.
The war has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions, with Russia now controlling roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Previous talks in Istanbul in 2022 failed to yield results, and since then, contact between the two sides has largely been limited to humanitarian issues.
