Istanbul: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to travel to Istanbul for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing support for US President Donald Trump's proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Zelenskyy conveyed his readiness for direct talks with Putin and emphasized the importance of the meeting taking place in Trkiye.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy stated his backing for President Trump's initiative of direct dialogue with Putin. He expressed hope that the Russian side would not avoid the meeting, underscoring Ukraine's willingness to maintain 'silence' on its side of the frontline in alignment with the ceasefire proposal. Zelenskyy also highlighted the potential for significant change through this diplomatic engagement and acknowledged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's role as a likely host for the high-level discussions.

Trump recently emphasized the significance of the upcoming meeting between Russia and Ukraine during a press conference. He described the meeting as "very important" and expressed optimism about its potential outcomes. Trump also praised Erdogan as a "great host" and shared his contemplation of attending the meeting in Trkiye if he believes it could lead to meaningful progress.

The ongoing conflict's human cost was a focal point in Trump's remarks, as he described it as "a whole new form of warfare." His comments and the planned meeting in Istanbul have heightened expectations for a possible diplomatic breakthrough.