President Zelenskyy stated that he is ready to personally meet with Vladimir Putin in Turkey. He anticipates a ceasefire from Russia and will personally wait for Putin in Istanbul on May 15. According to unofficial data, Zelenskyy will travel to Turkey for talks even if Russia refuses to participate in the ceasefire that was proposed to begin on May 12.
In response to Zelenskyy’s statement, the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, noted: “A ceasefire by Russia first, then everything else.”
US President Donald Trump believes that Ukraine should immediately agree to Russia’s offer for direct talks in Turkey, as Putin does not want to conclude a ceasefire agreement but seeks to discuss a possible end to the war.
“They will be able to determine whether a deal is possible, and if not, then European leaders and the US will know where everything is and can act accordingly. I am beginning to doubt that Ukraine will come to an agreement with Putin, who is too busy celebrating victory in World War II,” Trump said.
It is worth noting that on May 15, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also be in Turkey to participate in an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers.