Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him in Ankara, Turkey, this week for direct peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war that has now lasted over three years.
Zelenskyy made the bold declaration during a press conference in Kyiv, stating he would travel to Ankara on Thursday, where he plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and wait for Putin to join him.
“I will do everything to agree on a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said. “It is with Putin that I must negotiate, as only he can decide on it.”
Zelenskyy added that if Putin prefers Istanbul for the talks, both leaders would travel there from Ankara.
However, he warned that failure by the Russian leader to show up would prove that “he does not want to end the war.”
The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend the talks. When asked, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to provide a direct answer, saying:
“As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement.”
Despite the uncertainty, Russia has stated it is willing to send a delegation to Istanbul “without preconditions.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 10 Shahed drones overnight, its smallest drone attack of the year signaling a possible shift in military posture amid international pressure.
The talks come at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has urged both sides to seize the opportunity to end hostilities.
The proposed direct meeting in Turkey could mark a pivotal moment in diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and initiate broader peace negotiations.
Whether Putin accepts Zelenskyy’s challenge remains to be seen, but the world is watching.
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