Zelenskiy insists on direct talks with Putin in Istanbul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has emphasized that he will only attend peace talks with Russia in Istanbul this week if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also present. Zelenskiy challenged Putin, claiming that the Russian leader is afraid to meet him face-to-face. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend the scheduled talks, which will take place on Thursday, marking over three years of conflict in Ukraine.

The peace talks are part of efforts spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has offered to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and has proposed his own attendance. Senior diplomats Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are also being sent, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Zelenskiy has called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step towards peace and insists that Putin should take part in the discussions, asserting that "everything in Russia" depends on him. Zelenskiy stated that he hopes the talks will signal the beginning of the end of the war, adding that Putin’s fear of direct negotiations with him is a major hurdle.

In the event that talks do not take place, Zelenskiy expects strong sanctions from both the U.S. and the European Union. Meanwhile, both Moscow and Kyiv have indicated their willingness to pursue peace, especially after Trump made ending the war a priority.

Despite Putin's Sunday offer for direct talks with Ukraine, after he ignored Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal, Zelenskiy confirmed he would be in Istanbul on Thursday, even though the Kremlin has not clarified whether Putin plans to attend. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will announce the representatives for the talks once the president deems it appropriate.

Trump, speaking in Saudi Arabia, confirmed Rubio’s participation and expressed hope that Putin would attend. He suggested that if all three leaders meet, peace could be achieved rapidly. Trump’s senior envoy, Kellogg, suggested that Ukraine is ready to accept a "ceasefire in place," where both Ukrainian and Russian forces would retreat 15 kilometers, creating a demilitarized zone.

Ukrainian officials have not disclosed what terms they would accept for a ceasefire, while Russia has rejected the presence of international forces in Ukraine. The Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not comment immediately.

Pope Leo, recently elected, assured Zelenskiy that he would do his utmost to help secure a fair and lasting peace. Putin had previously shown openness to discussing a ceasefire with Trump but insisted on no territorial concessions and demanded that Kyiv abandon its NATO ambitions.

Moscow has also expressed readiness for serious negotiations, although Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov emphasized the need to recognize the new realities on the ground, including the annexation of territories Russia calls “new territories.” U.S. officials, meanwhile, are pressing for a comprehensive ceasefire lasting 30 days, covering land, air, sea, and critical infrastructure.