Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct peace talks in Türkiye on May 15.

“There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will wait for Putin on Thursday in Türkiye,” Zelensky declared in a televised statement, reaffirming Kyiv’s openness to diplomacy. He reiterated Ukraine’s position that any peace negotiations must be preceded by a full and unconditional ceasefire.

In a separate written statement, Zelensky added: “We expect a ceasefire from tomorrow — this proposal is on the table. A complete and unconditional ceasefire — long-term, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy — could bring peace much closer.”

The development follows renewed international pressure, particularly from Western allies, calling for both sides to halt hostilities and engage in direct dialogue. The United States has urged immediate negotiations, with former President Donald Trump stating on May 11, “Putin... doesn’t want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Türkiye, to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to this, immediately.”

Despite Ukraine’s readiness, the Kremlin has shown reluctance to accept the proposed 30-day ceasefire agreement. Russian officials continue to present maximalist conditions for ending the conflict, which Kyiv and its allies have criticized as obstructive.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on May 10 dismissed the idea of a 30-day truce, claiming it would disproportionately benefit Ukrainian forces. Moscow has yet to formally commit to halting its offensive, despite mounting diplomatic and economic pressure.

In a statement earlier this year, Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire and reaffirmed its readiness again on March 11. Kyiv renewed its call for a complete cessation of hostilities on April 23, emphasizing that “an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire” is essential for credible negotiations.

A day prior to Zelensky’s announcement, Ukraine hosted a high-level meeting with European partners in Kyiv, resulting in a joint demand for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to begin on May 12. However, Putin responded not with a commitment to a truce but with an invitation to direct talks — a move seen by critics as a stalling tactic.

Nevertheless, Zelensky said Ukraine remains committed to dialogue. “We in Ukraine have no problem holding negotiations — we are ready for any format. I will be in Türkiye this Thursday,” he said.

With both leaders now expected in Istanbul on May 15, hopes have cautiously risen that the long-stalled diplomatic channel might finally yield results. However, observers warn that without a binding ceasefire agreement, talks may falter again.

The war, now in its third year, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. A successful summit in Türkiye could mark the first substantial step toward ending the deadliest European conflict since World War II. (ILKHA)