Ukrainian President challenges Russian leader to face-to-face negotiations as Trump pushes for resolution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has thrown down the gauntlet to Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting he will only attend planned peace talks in Istanbul if Putin himself is present. During a press conference on Tuesday, Zelenskiy directly accused the Russian leader of being “scared” to meet him face-to-face.
The high-stakes diplomatic dance comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has prioritized ending the conflict, which has now raged for more than three years and stands as Europe’s deadliest since World War Two. Trump has announced plans to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to Thursday’s talks, and has even suggested he might attend personally if Putin shows up.
“We want to agree on a beginning to the end of the war,” Zelenskiy stated, emphasizing his desire to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as an initial step toward ending hostilities. The Ukrainian leader also warned that he expects “strong sanctions” from the United States and European Union if the talks fail to materialize.
The Kremlin has remained noncommittal about Putin’s attendance. When questioned, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said simply: “As soon as the president sees fit, we will announce it.”
Meanwhile, violence continues on the ground, with Russian bombing reportedly killing at least three people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Tuesday.
Trump advisor Keith Kellogg revealed in a Fox Business Network interview that Ukraine may be willing to accept a “ceasefire in place” arrangement, creating a demilitarized zone with forces from both sides backing up 15 kilometers. This would potentially include international forces stationed west of the Dnipro River as a deterrent, though Russian officials have previously rejected the presence of international forces in Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated Moscow is prepared for “serious talks” but questioned Kyiv’s negotiating capacity. He emphasized that any agreement must recognize “realities on the ground,” including Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territories currently under Russian occupation.
The diplomatic push comes after newly elected Pope Leo promised Zelenskiy his support in achieving a “just and lasting peace,” according to a Zelenskiy aide.
As the Thursday meeting approaches, the international community watches closely to see if this latest effort, backed by Trump’s administration, can succeed where previous peace initiatives have failed in a conflict that has cost thousands of lives and displaced millions since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
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