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In a dramatic turn of diplomacy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet face-to-face in Istanbul this Thursday. The invitation follows an assertive call by U.S. President Donald Trump urging Ukraine to accept direct talks with Russia, warning that time for negotiations is running out.
"There is no point in prolonging the killings," Zelensky declared in a post on X. "I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally." His statement marks a rare direct call-out to the Kremlin leader, intensifying pressure on both sides to pursue a political solution after more than three years of war.
Trump, in a strongly worded Truth Social post, demanded immediate engagement from Ukraine. "At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible," he wrote, emphasizing that a refusal would clarify the future path for the U.S. and European allies. Trump's appeal came just hours after Putin publicly floated the idea of renewed negotiations.
Putin, in a televised address Saturday night, stopped short of endorsing the 30-day ceasefire proposed by European leaders but expressed openness to "serious negotiations." He noted, "This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace," though he added that the West must first halt all military aid to Ukraine—an ongoing sticking point. On the same day, Zelensky hosted key European leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron in Kyiv. They called for a 30-day ceasefire "in the air, at sea and on land" and warned of "new and massive sanctions" against Russia's energy and banking sectors if Putin fails to comply. "This is not optional," Starmer told the BBC. "It's a demand that must be met."
The potential Istanbul meeting would be the first direct engagement between Ukraine and Russia since March 2022. Back then, talks collapsed within weeks, as both sides remained entrenched behind rigid terms. Now, with continued bloodshed and strained Western support, the stakes are higher than ever.
Despite tensions with Trump, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova maintained a hopeful tone, telling ABC News, "We will focus on the future. And sometimes friends can disagree."
With both leaders now publicly called to the table, Thursday could mark a pivotal moment. But whether it signals the beginning of peace—or yet another missed opportunity—will depend not on declarations, but on decisions made behind closed doors.
