Kyiv [Ukraine]: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, following US President Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to “immediately” accept a Russian proposal for peace talks in Turkey, CNN reported.
The development came shortly after Ukraine’s key European allies delivered an ultimatum to Russia: accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine by Monday, or face the imposition of “massive” new sanctions.
Germany’s newly appointed Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, confirmed that Trump had expressed his support for the ceasefire initiative, signaling transatlantic alignment—until Trump’s direct appeal to Zelenskyy on social media altered the momentum.
On his platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Shortly after the post, Zelenskyy responded, indicating his readiness for direct engagement with Putin for the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022.
“I will be waiting for Putin in Turkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter).
While Zelenskyy emphasized that a “full and lasting ceasefire” starting Monday would create the “necessary basis for diplomacy,” he stopped short of making the ceasefire an explicit precondition for attending the talks.
In a separate late-night address, Putin did not acknowledge the Western ceasefire ultimatum. Instead, he offered “direct talks” in Turkey on Thursday, a gesture not seen since the early stages of the war in 2022.
European and American leaders have since reiterated that no talks should take place until Russia agrees to the ceasefire. However, Putin’s proposal for dialogue appears to have shifted the international focus, relieving pressure on Moscow ahead of Monday’s deadline.
As of Sunday evening, European leaders had not confirmed whether they would proceed with the proposed sanctions if Russia fails to comply with the ceasefire demand.