Istanbul: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to participate in peace talks in Istanbul this week, but only if they involve a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a senior advisor said Monday. 'The president cannot meet with anyone else,' said Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, according to news agency RBC-Ukraine.

According to Anadolu Agency, Podolyak stated that Russia's power structure is well known and that no other official has the authority to decide on war or peace. He emphasized that even Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov or Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin are unlikely to be authorized to make such decisions. 'Only Putin can make the decision to continue or end the war,' he said, highlighting the necessity of a direct dialogue between the two leaders.

Podolyak further explained that a lower-level meeting would only delay meaningful progress. 'This is again stalling for time. What's the point of holding a meeting at a lower level?' he questioned, underscoring the urgency for a high-level dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Negotiations to settle the Russia-Ukraine war have reached their most advanced stage in over three years, with leaders of both countries expected to hold direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday. The proposal to meet without preconditions in Istanbul on May 15 was first made by Putin during a press conference in Moscow on Sunday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later confirmed Trkiye's readiness to host the talks during a phone call with Putin.

In response, Zelenskyy expressed his intention to 'personally' be 'waiting for Putin in Trkiye on Thursday,' while reaffirming Ukraine's call for a ceasefire starting Monday to 'provide the necessary basis for diplomacy.'