Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week, shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged him to accept Russia’s proposal for peace talks in Turkey.
This development came after a meeting in Kyiv on Saturday where Ukraine’s key European allies issued a firm demand: Russia must agree to a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine by Monday or face harsh new sanctions. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Trump supported this initiative.
However, in a late-night televised speech, Putin did not address the ceasefire ultimatum. Instead, he proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine in Turkey on Thursday—a type of engagement not seen since the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
While Ukraine’s European backers insisted that no discussions could proceed without a firm ceasefire in place, Trump broke from that stance. Writing on Truth Social, he called for Ukraine to accept the invitation to negotiate: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Within the hour, Zelensky publicly accepted the idea of talks with Putin, saying on X (formerly Twitter), “I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
Zelensky emphasized that a “full and lasting ceasefire” from Monday would provide the right conditions for diplomacy, though he didn’t explicitly state it as a prerequisite for attending the talks.
Sunday, Putin’s counterproposal had shifted some attention away from the ceasefire deadline and toward the prospect of negotiations. European leaders have not yet clarified whether they will impose additional sanctions on Russia if it fails to implement a ceasefire by the Monday deadline.
Earlier, Zelensky cautiously welcomed Putin’s offer, calling it a “positive sign,” but reiterated that Ukraine expects Russia to commit to the ceasefire plan. European leaders were more dismissive, maintaining that negotiations cannot proceed while active conflict continues.
Chancellor Merz asserted that “talks can’t begin until the weapons fall silent.” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed that message, saying the world awaits Russia’s unequivocal agreement to a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron said Putin’s offer fell short.
Keith Kellogg, a former Trump administration envoy to Ukraine, echoed the European stance, saying a ceasefire must come before negotiations.
Trump, however, reversed his earlier call for Russia to accept a ceasefire and instead urged Ukraine to attend the peace talks without preconditions.
For months, Ukraine and its partners have warned the U.S. that Putin may not negotiate in good faith, and that agreeing to a ceasefire would be a way to measure Russia’s commitment to peace.
Analysts see Putin’s proposal for talks—delivered in a rare 1 a.m. televised address—as a strategic move to deflect attention from his likely refusal to comply with the ceasefire deadline.
Sergey Radchenko, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, told CNN that the offer places significant pressure on Zelensky. “Otherwise, he risks facing criticism from Trump for rejecting peace efforts.”
Meanwhile, Turkey appears ready to facilitate the meeting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Putin on Sunday and voiced support for the proposed negotiations. Ankara confirmed its willingness to host the event, though a statement from Erdoğan’s office indicated that a ceasefire remains crucial to creating a suitable atmosphere for peace talks.
The White House announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be in Turkey from Wednesday to Friday for an informal NATO foreign ministers meeting, coinciding with the proposed peace talks.
Trump’s shift in stance is notable, as just last week he had called for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine and warned of sanctions if it wasn’t upheld. At the time, European leaders backed the threat, setting Monday as a deadline for compliance.
Radchenko suggested that Putin’s latest move was designed to flip the pressure back onto Kyiv. proposing talks and appearing open to peace, Putin could claim Ukraine was blocking progress if it declined to engage.
In his speech, Putin said he was open to a new ceasefire emerging from the talks, but emphasized that discussions should focus on addressing the fundamental causes of the conflict.
Despite his peace overtures, fighting resumed immediately after a short truce ordered by Putin for Russia’s World War II Victory Day. Ukraine reported over 100 drone strikes overnight, with both sides accusing each other of violating the pause in hostilities.
Source: CNN News
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