Key Points
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye for direct peace talks.
- President Erdoğan has agreed to host the meeting in Istanbul and supports a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8).
- Russia has yet to respond to the diplomatic initiative; Zelenskyy calls Moscow’s silence “very strange.”
- President Trump has expressed support for the proposed ceasefire and direct diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia.
A Closer Look at the Peace Initiative
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye for direct peace talks, urging Moscow to respond to an international call for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. The statement comes amid increasing diplomatic pressure from European leaders and a wave of global support for a peaceful resolution to the war.
Posting on X, President Zelenskyy stated, “We are ready for such direct diplomacy to put an end to killings and advance real peace. And this must certainly be discussed with the person who makes decisions in Russia”.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has agreed to host the proposed summit, and Zelenskyy confirmed ongoing dialogue with Erdoğan about the logistics and international oversight of the ceasefire. “We share a common view on the need for a ceasefire… We will remain in constant contact with the United States,” Zelenskyy said in another post.
The Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries have issued a joint statement urging Russia to agree to an “immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire,” a move that Zelenskyy publicly supported and welcomed .
Despite the growing international consensus, the Kremlin has yet to issue an official response. “Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia… Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting,” Zelenskyy remarked, adding that “there is no sense in continuing the killing” .
President Trump, who has called for a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, has also backed the proposed high-level summit. Zelenskyy said he supported Trump’s idea “of a full and unconditional ceasefire — long enough to provide the foundation for diplomacy,” and emphasized the need for Trump’s presence at the talks: “All of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Türkiye” .
International observers note that this diplomatic push marks the most serious attempt at direct Ukraine-Russia dialogue since early 2022. Whether the Kremlin will respond remains uncertain.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available, including whether President Putin accepts the invitation to Türkiye and how the international community, including NATO and the UN, will respond.
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