Zelensky Agrees to Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey Following Trump’s Push for Immediate Dialogue
Kyiv, May 11 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he is ready to hold direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday. This comes after US President Donald Trump urged Zelensky to accept Russia’s latest offer for dialogue without delay.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Zelensky also revealed that Ukraine expects a full ceasefire to begin on Monday, setting the stage for meaningful negotiations aimed at ending the war.
“And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday,” Zelensky wrote.
We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2025
This would mark the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the conflict escalated, raising cautious hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough after months of intense warfare.