Zelenskyy will speak with Putin in Istanbul about a complete ceasefire and the exchange of all Ukrainian prisoners.

President Zelenskyy said that if negotiations do occur, these conditions are required above all else. However, he noted that only external mediators can ensure compliance with any agreement, particularly US leader Donald Trump.

According to NBS News, the US President’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will also travel to Istanbul, along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will take part in the negotiations. Zelenskyy stressed that the war must be halted; it may endure for some time, but Ukraine is unlikely to survive an endless war.

“Trump’s presence may encourage the Russian dictator to come. If Putin does not come, it will look like a complete defeat for him,” the president stated.

Moreover, according to Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Putin’s refusal to meet with the Ukrainian leader would signify Moscow’s unwillingness to end the war. In that event, a strong response from the US and the entire world would be necessary.

The European Commission confirmed that if Putin does not attend the meeting in Istanbul and no decision on a ceasefire is made, further sanctions will be imposed on Russia.