Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his readiness to travel to Istanbul for ceasefire discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This declaration follows a proposal by Putin to resume direct peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv without any preconditions. The proposed meeting is set for May 15 in Istanbul, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirming his willingness to host the discussions during a recent call with Putin.

According to Anadolu Agency, this diplomatic initiative marks the first potential direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since early 2022, with Turkey acting as a facilitator. Zelenskyy has indicated that he will personally wait for Putin in Turkey on Thursday, emphasizing Ukraine's desire for a ceasefire beginning Monday as a foundation for further diplomatic efforts.

Zelenskyy conveyed to reporters in Kyiv his plans to meet with Erdogan in Ankara ahead of the proposed talks, underscoring his preparedness to fly to Istanbul if Putin agrees to the meeting. Zelenskyy emphasized that if Putin is genuinely willing to engage in dialogue beyond media statements, Ukraine is committed to pursuing a ceasefire at the leadership level.

In response to inquiries about the desired outcome of negotiations with Putin, Zelenskyy stated that a ceasefire would be the most favorable result for Ukraine, noting that it would be a preliminary step towards resolving the ongoing conflict, now in its third year.

The Ukrainian president also addressed speculation about the potential attendance of US President Donald Trump at the talks in Turkey. Zelenskyy mentioned receiving signals of Trump's possible participation but clarified that there is no confirmation of his attendance at present.