Zelenskyy says he is willing to meet Putin in Istanbul for peace talks

The Ukrainian president said on Sunday he expected Russia to confirm a ceasefire starting Monday, and that he was prepared to meet with his Russian counterpart in Turkey on Thursday for direct talks to end Moscow's war, now in its fourth year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he is hoping for a complete ceasefire in Russia's war against his country starting Monday, adding he would be in Turkey to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin "personally".Zelenskyy's words came in response to Putin's remarks to the media overnight, in which he effectively ignored the idea of a ceasefire — pushed for by Western leaders — and proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday instead "without preconditions". Putin did not specify whether the talks on Thursday would involve Zelenskyy and himself personally.Zelenskyy said on X on Sunday morning that it was a "positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war" and said that "the entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time."He added, however, that "the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire." "There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — full, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet," the Ukrainian leader said on X.French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and issued a coordinated call for a 30-day truce starting Monday. The plan has received backing from both the European Union and Trump.The leaders pledged tougher sanctions on Russia if Putin did not accept the proposal.Prior to the Kyiv visit by the quartet of European leaders, US President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer of holding direct talks in Turkey on Thursday. Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded that Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead."We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in (Turkey) on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses," he wrote on X.Trump said in a social media post earlier Sunday that Ukraine should agree to Putin's peace talks proposal "immediately.""At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly," Trump wrote, adding: "Have the meeting, now."Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin said.According to the Kremlin's readout of the phone call, Erdogan "fully supported the Russian proposal, emphasising his readiness to provide" a platform for the talks in Istanbul, as well as "all possible assistance in organizing and holding the negotiations aimed at achieving sustainable peace."Erdogan also spoke to Macron on Sunday, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office, and said that a "historic turning point" had been reached in efforts to end Russia's war.