Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has drawn a clear line ahead of proposed peace talks in Istanbul, stating he will only attend if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present. His top adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, made the declaration on Tuesday, emphasizing Kyiv’s demand for genuine negotiations directly with Russia’s leader.
The summit, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, has gained momentum following an unexpected offer by U.S. President Donald Trump to join the discussions. Trump, who is on a broader Middle East tour, said he might fly to Istanbul if it helps move toward ending the war.
Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, reaffirmed Ukraine’s firm stance: negotiations can only begin after Russia agrees to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. “Our position is principled and strong,” Yermak stated during a visit to Copenhagen.
The Kremlin has yet to confirm Putin’s attendance. While Russian officials have expressed a willingness to seek a long-term settlement, they remain silent on the specifics of their participation in Istanbul.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has left hundreds of thousands dead and driven deep geopolitical divisions across Europe and beyond. Ukraine continues to demand security guarantees and rejects any limits on its military or sovereignty.
While Russia refers to a previously unratified 2022 draft agreement proposing Ukrainian neutrality in exchange for international guarantees, Kyiv maintains that any deal must be preceded by a ceasefire and must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
As pressure mounts, European leaders are calling for intensified sanctions if Russia fails to meet the ceasefire demand. The world now watches to see whether the long-avoided direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin will materialize and shift the tide of war toward peace.