Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will only take part in this week’s proposed peace talks in Turkey if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present. The statement comes ahead of a potential high-level meeting aimed at ending the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky, who confirmed plans to travel to Turkey, said his decision was influenced by encouragement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who is pushing for direct negotiations. Although Putin originally proposed the meeting, he has not yet confirmed his attendance.
“Everything in Russia depends on Putin,” Zelensky said. “So I’ll go to Turkey on Thursday, but only if he’s there. Direct talks with him are the only way to stop the war.”
The talks are set to be held in Istanbul and follow pressure from Ukraine’s European allies, who issued a ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum to Moscow. A proposed 30-day ceasefire, supported by the U.S. and European leaders, is seen as a test of Russia’s commitment to peace.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to attend, and Trump has said he’s willing to fly to Turkey if it would help move talks forward. The Kremlin has remained vague about Putin’s participation, with a spokesperson saying a decision would be made “in due course.”
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said preparations are underway and that Moscow hopes to engage directly with Ukraine at the summit. Meanwhile, international pressure continues to mount on Russia, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning of further sanctions if Moscow refuses the ceasefire.
Despite the planned talks, doubts persist. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest the Kremlin may be laying the groundwork for Putin to avoid the meeting, with some Russian officials already dismissing the summit as political theater.
Zelensky said he has invited Trump to attend, believing his presence might pressure Putin to show up. “It would give him a reason to come,” he said.
Senior U.S. officials, including Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and foreign affairs adviser Steve Witkoff, are expected to attend the summit, regardless of Trump’s decision.
On the battlefield, the situation remains tense but largely unchanged. Russian forces continue launching missile and drone attacks, though no significant territorial gains have been reported in recent months. The ISW noted that a ceremonial FSB unit has been deployed to the front, likely as a show of strength.
Zelensky warned that if Russia rejects the ceasefire proposal by Thursday, he expects the U.S. and Europe to respond with tougher sanctions.
If both presidents attend, the Istanbul summit would mark the first direct talks between Putin and Zelensky since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.